Lok Sabha Question No. 5693 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Growth Disparity between Major and Minor Ports
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5693

ANSWERED ON 04.04.2025

## GROWTH DISPARITY BETWEEN MAJOR AND MINOR PORTS

5693. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

## Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:

## पȅन , पोत  पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

(a) whether it is a fact that the overall growth in the port sector is primarily driven by a few major  ports  while  several  other  ports,  especially  minor  ports  are  witnessing  slower growth, if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of cargo traffic growth at major and minor ports separately over the last five years, along with the annual growth rate; (c) the growth of inland waterways in Bihar over the last five years, including cargo and passenger traffic; (d)  the  number  of  people  directly  and  indirectly  employed  in  the  port  and  inland waterways sector over the last five years, including data specific to Bihar; (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure balanced growth across both major and minor ports; and (f)  whether there is any specific plan to modernize and expand minor ports to enhance their efficiency and competitiveness, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Major Ports are under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping &  Waterways  and  Ports  other  than  Major  Ports  (Non-Major/Minor)  are  under  the jurisdiction of respective State Government. 12 Major Port in the country accounts for the bulk of India's cargo handling capacity and have benefitted from substantial investments in infrastructure, modernization, and automation. For a balanced and sustained growth of the  Indian  port  sector,  Ministry  of  Ports,  Shipping  and  Waterways  under  Sagarmala Scheme is providing financial assistance to State Government / UT for development of port infrastructure .

(b) The  details  of  cargo  handled  by  Major  Ports  and  Non-Major  Ports  is  annexed. [ Annexure-I ]

(c) & (d) Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has undertaken implementation of  the  Jal  Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) to augment the capacity of National Waterway-1 (NW-1) (from Varanasi to Haldia, 1390 Kilometer stretch). The development objective of JMVP is to enhance transport efficiency and reliability of NW-1 which passes through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Under JMVP, the details of developments in Bihar along with employment generation is annexed. [ Annexure-II ]. The number of  people  directly  employed  at  Major  Ports  and  Non-Major  Ports  is  annexed. [ Annexure-III ]

(e) Ministry  constituted  Maritime  States  Development  Council  (MSDC)  in  the  year 1997, an apex advisory body for the development of maritime sector and aims to ensure development of Major and Non-Major Ports, in consultation with State Governments, the future development of existing and new Minor Ports by the respective Maritime States either  directly  or  through  captive  users  and  private  participation.  Till  date,  twenty meetings  of  MSDC  have  been  held.  Further,  under  Sagarmala,  the  Government  aims holistic port infrastructure  development  along  the  coastline  though  modernisation, mechanisation and computerisation.

(f) Yes Sir, Sagarmala is the flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping  and  Waterways  to  promote  port-led  development  in  the  country  through harnessing  lndia's  7,500  km  long  coastline,  and  14,500  km  of  potentially  navigable waterways. Under the Sagarmala Scheme, the Ministry provides financial assistance to State/UT  Governments  for  Port  infrastructure  projects,  Coastal  berth  projects,  Road  & Rail projects, fishing harbours, skill development projects, Coastal community development, cruise terminal and projects such as Ro-Pax ferry services. Ministry has till date  provided  partial  assistance  to  71  project  at  a  total  Cost  of  Rs.  4925  Cr.  for development of Non-Major Ports under Sagarmala Scheme.

Annexure-I

| Year    |   Cargo handled by Major Ports (Million Tonnes) |   Cargo handled by Non- Major Ports (Million Tonnes) |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| 2019-20 |                                          704.92 |                                               615.05 |
| 2020-21 |                                          672.68 |                                               577.3  |
| 2021-22 |                                          720.05 |                                               603.75 |
| 2022-23 |                                          784.3  |                                               651.01 |
| 2023-24 |                                          819.3  |                                               723.59 |

## Annexure-II

| JMVP Sub Projects in Bihar                                       | Cost (In Cr.)                                   | Approx. No. of Employment Generated   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| Development of Intermodal Terminal Kal u ghat                    | 84.5                                            | 171                                   |
| Development of 21 Community Jetties in Bihar                     | 34.79                                           | 546                                   |
| Fairway Development Klughat Access Channel                       | 9.63                                            | 24                                    |
| Fairway Development Sultanganj - Mahenderpur (2019 - 2024)       | 159.3                                           | 52                                    |
| Fairway Development Mahenderpur to Barh (2019 - 2024)            | 182.9                                           | 48                                    |
| Fairway Development Sultanganj - Mahenderpur - Barh (2027 -2027) | 147.43                                          | 84                                    |
| Fairway Development Barh - Digha                                 | 73.14                                           | 45                                    |
| Fairway Development Digha - Majhauwa                             | 58.93                                           | 50                                    |
| Development of Ship Repair Facility Patna                        | 50                                              | -                                     |
| Quick Pontoon Opening Mechanism                                  | 11.61                                           | 5                                     |
| Total                                                            | 800.62                                          | 1025                                  |
| JMVP staff at Project Implementation Unit Patna                  | JMVP staff at Project Implementation Unit Patna | 9                                     |
| Total                                                            | Total                                           | 1034                                  |

Annexure-III Employment of Manpower at Major Ports and Non Major Ports

|   Year |   Major Ports (in numbers) |   Non- Major Ports (in numbers) |
|--------|----------------------------|---------------------------------|
|   2020 |                      26318 |                            5232 |
|   2021 |                      23330 |                            9945 |
|   2022 |                      20924 |                            9598 |
|   2023 |                      18109 |                           14219 |
|   2024 |                      16667 |                           13381 |

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