PM Modi Hails Sonowal’s Visionary Article on Rejuvenating India’s Maritime and Waterway Sectors

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today praised a visionary write-up by union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, highlighting the transformative role of India’s rivers and maritime infrastructure in propelling the nation’s economic growth and connectivity.

Sharing the article on the PMO’s official X handle, Modi said, “In this must-read piece, union Minister Sarbanand Sonowal explains how a growing and resilient industrial base, powered by the ‘Make in India’ initiative and modernized ports along the vital east-west trade corridor, gives India a unique competitive edge.

He further highlights that the government’s USD 8 billion package to rejuvenate India’s shipbuilding and maritime ecosystem is not a routine budget line, but a bold signal of ambition.”

Sonowal’s article celebrates the Modi government’s ambitious efforts to rediscover, reimagine, and rejuvenate India’s inland waterways, transforming them into critical arteries for logistics, tourism, and infrastructure development.

“India’s waterways are being rediscovered, reimagined, and rejuvenated under the Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi-led Government,” Sonowal wrote, emphasizing that these initiatives form a cornerstone of the broader vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’—a developed India where natural resources drive progress and modernization.

The government’s focus on inland waterways aims to create a sustainable and efficient transport system that will reduce logistics costs, ease road congestion, promote eco-friendly transportation, and boost regional tourism and development.

Complementing this, the Modi administration has unveiled a landmark USD 8 billion package to revitalize India’s shipbuilding and maritime sector, setting the stage for a new era of maritime prowess.

Sonowal hailed the package as a “signal of ambition,” aimed at revitalizing a sector of immense strategic and economic importance. This ambitious initiative targets the creation of nearly three million direct and indirect jobs and seeks to attract investments worth approximately Rs 4.5 lakh crore. It includes plans to quadruple port capacity to over 10,000 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), supported by world-class infrastructure projects like the Vadhavan port, and enhanced efficiency through the ‘One Nation One Port’ scheme.

Key elements of the plan comprise expanding domestic shipbuilding capacity to 4.5 million Gross Tonnage annually and establishing a Rs 25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund to provide long-term financial support. The government is also championing sustainable shipping practices, such as developing green hydrogen hubs and transitioning to eco-friendly green tugs.

Together, these initiatives aim to position India as a global leader in shipping and shipbuilding, strengthening trade facilitation and underpinning the country’s broader economic ambitions.

By highlighting Sonowal’s vision alongside the maritime revitalization package, PM Modi reiterates the strategic importance of harnessing India’s abundant natural resources to fuel innovation, infrastructure advancement, and sustainable growth. As India charts its path toward a ‘Viksit Bharat,’ its rejuvenated waterways and maritime capabilities are set to become powerful engines of prosperity, connectivity, and national pride.