Lok Sabha Question No. 5661 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Transportation of Goods through Ports
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Bajrang Manohar Sonwane

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5661

ANSWERED ON 27.03.2026

## TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS THROUGH PORTS

5661. SHRI BAJRANG MANOHAR SONWANE:

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

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  steps  to  promote  transportation  of  goods through ports and inland waterways in order to reduce logistics costs and improve efficiency in the country, if so, the details thereof, State-wise; (b)  whether  the  Government  has  any proposal  to  strengthen  port  connectivity  and logistics infrastructure for facilitating export of agricultural and industrial products; (c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  projects  that  have  been  proposed/under implementation in Maharashtra particularly from the Marathwada region; and (d) the manner in which the said initiatives are expected to benefit farmers, industries

- and employment generation in the concerned regions?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The Government has taken various measures such as the construction of new berths,  terminals,  parking  plazas,  mechanization/  modernization/  optimization  of existing berths and terminals, expansion of hinterland connectivity through rail and road,  elimination  of  manual  Forms,  facilitation  of  Direct  Port  Delivery  and  Entry, installation of Container Scanners, e-delivery orders/ invoice/payments, RFID-based gate automation system, fairway development, jetties, multi-modal terminals, navigation  improvements,  policy  incentives  including  a  35%  subsidy  for  inland transport,  extension  of  tonnage  tax  to  inland  vessels,  creation  of  cargo  hubs, operationalization of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes, etc. to reduce logistics costs and improve the efficiency of major ports and inland waterways. (b) to(d)

Sagarmala  programme  of  the  Government  of  India  has  a  dedicated pillar  of port connectivity, which focuses on the last mile, and immediate hinterland connectivity  of  the  portsto  minimize  overall  logistics  costs.  Further,  Department  for Promotion  of  Industry  and  Internal  Trade  (DPIIT)  has  prepared  a  Comprehensive

Port Connectivity Plan (CPCP) in 2022 by reviewing connectivity of the operational ports  and  identified  the  ports,  which  needed  improvement  of  road  and/  or  rail connectivity with nearby economic hubs. A total of 157 road connectivity projects and 124 rail connectivity projects have been identified for implementation to provide last mile port connectivity including in the state of Maharashtra where 2 rail and 8 road port  connectivity  projects  have  been completed  and  32  projects  are  under  various stages of implementation and planning. The details of these connectivity projects are available at Annexure I.

Improved  road  and  rail  connectivity  between  ports  and  their  hinterland  enable farmers to access larger domestic and international markets, reduce transportation time and costs, and minimize post-harvest losses, thereby enhancing their incomes. Industries  benefit  from  efficient  movement  of  raw  materials  and  finished  goods, leading to lower logistics costs, improved competitiveness, and increased investment opportunities. Additionally, these projects generate direct employment during construction and indirect employment through growth in logistics, warehousing, and allied sectors, contributing to overall regional economic development and livelihood enhancement.

Port Connectivity projects under Sagarmala Programme for state of Maharashtra

|   Sl. No. | Name of Project                                                                          | Project Category   | Port     | Status               |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|----------|----------------------|
|         1 | Rail connectivity for the BMCTPL-PSA fourth terminal                                     | Rail               | JNPT     | Completed            |
|         2 | Development of DFC-compliant Common Rail Yard (Parts I & II), including ROB modification | Rail               | JNPT     | Completed            |
|         3 | 6 laning of Pune-Satara section of NH 4                                                  | Road               | JNPT     | Completed            |
|         4 | JNPT - 6 to 8 laning of NH-4B- SH-54 and Amra Marg                                       | Road               | JNPT     | Completed            |
|         5 | Flyover at JNPT Y Junction                                                               | Road               | JNPT     | Completed            |
|         6 | Upgrading SH 92- 96- 97 from NH17 to North and South banks of Dighi Port                 | Road               | Dighi    | Completed            |
|         7 | Construction of flyover near North Gate Complex on container road in JN Ports            | Road               | JNPT     | Completed            |
|         8 | ONGC Bridge Extension work inside JNPT holding yard                                      | Road               | JNPT     | Completed            |
|         9 | Evacuation road for Container Terminal -330m extension to DPW terminal at JNPT           | Road               | JNPT     | Completed            |
|        10 | Construction of approach road to Kharwadeshwari Jetty in District Palghar, Maharashtra   | Road               | Palghar  | Completed            |
|        11 | 3rd line rail connectivty from Jasai to JNPT                                             | Rail               | JNPT     | Under Implementation |
|        12 | Vadhavan port rail connectivity to trunk line between Vangaon and Dahanu Station.        | Rail               | Vadhavan | Under Implementation |
|        13 | 2 to 4 laning of Panvel to Indapur section of NH 17 - Phase 3                            | Road               | JNPT     | Under Implementation |
|        14 | Construction of approach road to Ro-RO jetty at Karanja                                  | Road               | Karanja  | Under Implementation |
|        15 | Madkhol-Sankeshwar                                                                       | Road               | Redi     | Under Implementation |

|   16 | Construction of approach road to Narangi Jetty                                          | Road   | Virar          | Under Implementation   |
|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|----------------|------------------------|
|   17 | Dedicated goods line between Wadala and Kurla for freight movement from MbPT            | Rail   | Mumbai         | Under Planning         |
|   18 | Railway line from Uran commercial loading terminal to port (Karanja Terminal Logistics) | Rail   | Karanja        | Under Planning         |
|   19 | Rail connectivity from Redi Port to Sawantwadi Road Station of Konkan Railway           | Rail   | Redi           | Under Planning         |
|   20 | Rail connectivity from Ratnagiri to Jaigad (Angre Port)                                 | Rail   | Jaigad - Angre | Under Planning         |
|   21 | Rail connectivity from Vaibhavwadi to Kolhapur                                          | Rail   | Jaigad - JSW   | Under Planning         |
|   22 | Rail connectivity from Dighi port (Agardanda) to Roha                                   | Rail   | Dighi          | Under Planning         |
|   23 | Rail connectivity from JSW Dolvi/Pen station to JSW Dharamtar Port                      | Rail   | Dharamtar      | Under Planning         |
|   24 | Rail connectivity from Indo Energy (Sanegaon) to Roha                                   | Rail   | Revdanda       | Under Planning         |
|   25 | Rail Connectivity from Bharat Freight (Dharamtar) to Apta                               | Rail   | Dharamtar      | Under Planning         |
|   26 | 108 KM, 6 Lane Road, Connecting Port to Pune from Indapur                               | Road   | Rajpuri/Dighi  | Under Planning         |
|   27 | 12 Kms 4 Lane Road Connecting Both Ports to Pune                                        | Road   | Rajpuri/Dighi  | Under Planning         |
|   28 | 20 kms 4 Lane road from DIGHI to Agardanda Terminal Access                              | Road   | Rajpuri/Dighi  | Under Planning         |
|   29 | 3 Grade Separators at Kolad, Indapore&Mangaon                                           | Road   | Rajpuri/Dighi  | Under Planning         |
|   30 | 4 Lane (Bitumen Road), Connecting Roha to Both Terminals                                | Road   | Rajpuri/Dighi  | Under Planning         |
|   31 | Bridge over creek near Waral, Connecting Both Terminal Access Road                      | Road   | Rajpuri/Dighi  | Under Planning         |
|   32 | Connectivity of Vadhavan to NH 8 through Tarapur-Boisar or Chinchani-Vangaon or Dahanu  | Road   | Vadhavan       | Under Planning         |

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|   33 | Linking of NH-4 and NH-8 by- passing Mumbra                                                                                             | Road   | JNPT                | Under Planning   |
|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|---------------------|------------------|
|   34 | New alignment proposed - 12 kms. Karanja Ro-Ro jetty to JNPT road (SH-348)                                                              | Road   | Karanja             | Under Planning   |
|   35 | Separate alignment is proposed for connectivity road from Mandwa to Alibaug                                                             | Road   | Mandwa              | Under Planning   |
|   36 | Strengthening and expansion of Dharamtar Port to Wadkhal                                                                                | Road   | Dharamtar (Alibag)  | Under Planning   |
|   37 | Upgradation of existing road connectivity's (NH548A &NH753F) from 2 lane to 6 lane till NH66 to both sides (Agardanda side &Dighi side) | Road   | Rajpuri/Dighi       | Under Planning   |
|   38 | Upgradation of road from Korlai to Kolad and Korlai to Vadkal                                                                           | Road   | Korlai              | Under Planning   |
|   39 | Upgradation of two lane to four lane- 54 kmsVijaydurga to Talere                                                                        | Road   | Vijaydurg           | Under Planning   |
|   40 | Upgradation Sanegaon to Wakan and Sanegaon to Kolad                                                                                     | Road   | Revdanda - Sanegaon | Under Planning   |
|   41 | Upgradation/ expansion of 25 kms. SH-123 from Redi Port to Satara to 4 lane road                                                        | Road   | Redi                | Under Planning   |
|   42 | Upgradation/ expansion of 42 kms. SH-164 from Jaigad to Nivali to 4 lane road                                                           | Road   | Jaigad              | Under Planning   |

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