The Inland Waterways Authority of India is prioritising Odisha to develop efficient freight links between the mineral-rich interior and coastal ports such as Paradip and Dhamra. Chairman Sushil Kumar Lohani reviewed National Waterway 5, focusing on its 332-km Talcher-Pankapal-Paradip-Dhamra stretch. The corridor could facilitate movement of coal, minerals, steel and fly ash, easing pressure on rail and road networks. Plans include navigation terminals, weirs and dams, alongside public-private partnerships. Coordination with Coal India, Paradip Port and the Odisha Government is also being explored to integrate the waterway into broader logistics networks.

DFCCIL has launched the Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, connecting New Dadri in Uttar Pradesh with New Ancheli in Gujarat. Flagged off by Railway Board Member Dr Manoj Singh, the service covers about 1,200 km in approximately 23 hours, with intermediate handling at New Motidau. It extends parcel connectivity beyond Ahmedabad toward Surat and Mumbai, supporting e-commerce and FMCG logistics. The integrated rail-road model offers digital booking, tracking and door-to-door delivery, while shifting cargo from road to rail can reduce emissions and improve logistics efficiency.

India’s ports, handling nearly 95 per cent of trade by volume, are undergoing a major digital and environmental transformation. Major ports handled a record 855 million tonnes in FY2024-25, while the Sagarmala programme continues to drive large-scale investment. Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 further expand the sector’s ambitions. The Indian Ports Act, 2025, strengthens environmental and safety requirements. Alongside physical infrastructure such as berths and breakwaters, ports are increasingly adopting digital systems, sensors and automation to improve efficiency, resilience and sustainability.

India is accelerating investments in ports, inland waterways and shipbuilding under its Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap, targeting over 700 MTPA of additional port capacity by 2030. Major projects include Vadhavan Port, Tuticorin Outer Harbour and Kandla Tuna Tekra Terminal. Inland waterways cargo has already crossed 200 million tonnes, while shipbuilding output rose 41 per cent to 57,637 GT in 2025. The government is also advancing greenfield shipbuilding clusters and greater private participation. Digitisation and mechanisation remain key priorities as India seeks stronger maritime infrastructure, logistics efficiency and global competitiveness.

Mumbai Port Authority is evaluating expansion plans to strengthen its petroleum, oil and lubricants infrastructure, including additional crude-oil jetties, petroleum-product and chemical berths. The move aims to accommodate rising refinery output from BPCL, HPCL and planned refinery expansions in Maharashtra. POL cargo remains central to Mumbai Port’s operations, accounting for nearly three-fifths of total traffic. Vessel-borne crude-oil volumes rose 52 per cent to 26.24 million tonnes in 2025-26 from 17.22 million tonnes in 2011-12. A 10 per cent increase in vessel-borne POL cargo could add around 4.5 million tonnes annually.