India Targets 700 MTPA Port Capacity Expansion by 2030, Steps Up Shipbuilding Push

India is accelerating investments across ports, inland waterways and shipbuilding as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) advances its roadmap towards Viksit Bharat 2047, with a focus on capacity expansion, private investment, mechanisation, digitisation and domestic maritime manufacturing.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, while chairing a high-level review of the Ministry's Viksit Bharat targets, directed officials, major ports and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to accelerate implementation of key projects while adhering to stipulated timelines.

The Ministry said India has consolidated its position as the world's largest ship recycling nation, while cargo movement through inland waterways has crossed 200 million tonnes, achieving the Maritime India Vision 2030 target ahead of schedule.

Port Capacity Expansion

The Ministry is pursuing a major expansion programme aimed at adding more than 700 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of port capacity by 2030.

Key projects include Vadhavan Port, targeted to add 164 MTPA of capacity by 2030-31; the Tuticorin Outer Harbour project, with 39 MTPA; and the Kandla Tuna Tekra Terminal, expected to contribute 33 MTPA by 2027-28.

Overall, around 682 MTPA of additional capacity is planned by 2030, comprising 306 MTPA at major ports, 193 MTPA at key non-major ports and another 183 MTPA through mechanisation, efficiency improvements, PPP projects and capacity augmentation at emerging non-major ports.

Mechanisation and PPP Participation

Cargo-handling mechanisation across ports is targeted to increase from 76% in FY 2025-26 to 93% by 2030, with the objective of improving efficiency and reducing vessel turnaround times.

Private participation is also set to increase substantially, with the share of cargo handled through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects targeted to rise from 44% in 2013-14 to 85% by 2030-31.

The Ministry has also set a target of achieving 100% digitisation of the maritime sector by 2030, supported by integrated digital platforms for logistics, transparency and service delivery.

Shipbuilding Output Rises 41%

India's domestic shipbuilding output increased 41% from 40,923 gross tonnes in 2024 to 57,637 GT in 2025.

To expand manufacturing capacity, the Government has granted in-principle approvals for greenfield shipbuilding clusters in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, each planned with a capacity of 1.2 million GT. Similar approvals for Maharashtra and Odisha are expected by August-September 2026.

A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding has also been signed with HD Hyundai-KSOE for the development of a shipbuilding cluster in Tamil Nadu, along with 100% financial support for common maritime infrastructure.

The average contract value of vessels being built domestically has increased more than fivefold, from ₹41 crore to ₹212 crore per vessel, indicating a shift towards larger and more technologically advanced ships.

The initiatives form part of the Government's broader Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap to position India among the world's leading maritime economies by expanding infrastructure and logistics capacity while strengthening domestic shipbuilding and global competitiveness.