Lok Sabha Question No. 4128 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: Promote Coastal Shipping
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Rajendra Agrawal, Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Arun Sao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4128

ANSWERED ON24IO3I2O23

## PROMOTE COASTAL SHIPPING

4128. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI:

SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

SHRI ARUN SAO:

willthe Minister of Pffi,, HtmtffffiH* pteased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government  has formulated any new comprehensive  plan  to promote coastal shipping  along the 7500 Kms long coastline  of the country  to relieve  excessive pressure  on roads and railways  for the movement of cargo;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including new policies  and strategies  envisaged  along with the success  achieved in this regard leading to increased  traffic movement  during the last three years; and
- (c) the details of the assistance/ support provided by the Government to increase  coastal shipping by other sectors/ agencies including  the private sector?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS (sHRt SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a), (b) & (c) Under Sagarmala Programme,  various initiatives and projects  have been undertaken  to facilitate shifting of cargo from conventional  land-based transportation to coastal shipping mode. ln this regard, the Government  has taken following  measures to enhance coastal  shipping:

- (i) Under the Sagarmala Programme,  70 projects worth Rs.2856 crore have been sanctioned for the development of Coastal Berths, Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax  Jetties/Passenger Jetties etc. Out of which 1  5 projects  worth Rs. 849 crore have been completed.
- (ii)Licensingrelaxationundersection40ToftheMerchantshippingActisgivento container  vessels for carrying EXIM containers  and empty containers  at transhipment ports for outbound transport;  and to foreign flag vessels  carrying  agricultural, fisheries, horticultural,  fertilizers  and animal  produce  commodities subject to the condition  that these commodities constitute  at least 50% of the cargo on board the ship at the beginning of the coastal leg.
- (iii) A discount of 40% is offered by ma.ior  ports on vessel and cargo related  charges  to coastal cargo vessels.
- (iv) Priority  berthing  policy for coastal vessels  has been notified to reduce turnaround time for coastal  vessels and improve  their utilization'
- (v) Reduction of GST on bunker  fuels used in lndian Flag Vessels from 18% to 5%.
- (vi) Green channel clearance introduced  for faster evacuation of coastal  cargo at  ports.
- (vii) Allowed reimbursement  of freight subsidy on primary movement of subsidized urea and P&K fertilizers  by coastal shipping or inland water transportation'
- (viii) The projects for improvement in the first and last mile road and rail connectivity with all the major and non-major  ports have also been identified  for faster cargo movement Ministry  of Ports, shipping and waterways is working with Ministry  of Railways and Ministry  of Road Transport and Highways  to implement  these  projects'

The details of the coastal cargo traffic state wise for last three years is as under:

| State-u/ise coastal cargo traffic for last three years (MMTPA)   | State-u/ise coastal cargo traffic for last three years (MMTPA)   | State-u/ise coastal cargo traffic for last three years (MMTPA)   | State-u/ise coastal cargo traffic for last three years (MMTPA)   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| --                                                               |                                                                  |                                                                  |                                                                  |
| Gujarat                                                          | 32                                                               |                                                                  | 31                                                               |
| Maharashtra                                                      | 25                                                               | 24                                                               | 28                                                               |
| Goa                                                              | 1                                                                | 1                                                                | 1                                                                |
| Andhra Pradesh                                                   | tt                                                               | 14                                                               | 17                                                               |
| Karnataka                                                        | 5                                                                |                                                                  | F,                                                               |
| Kerala                                                           | b                                                                | o                                                                | b                                                                |
| Tamil Nadu                                                       | 14                                                               | '15                                                              | 17                                                               |
| Pud ucherry                                                      | I                                                                | 1                                                                | 1                                                                |
| Odisha                                                           | 20                                                               | 17                                                               | 22                                                               |
| West Bengal                                                      | 4                                                                | J                                                                | J                                                                |
| Andaman & Nicobar                                                | I                                                                | 1                                                                | 1                                                                |
| Total (MMTPA)                                                    | 127                                                              | 114                                                              | 133                                                              |