India’s Ministry of Shipping has increased the scope of the Sagarmala project to provide financial support to its ports and state governments for the creation of infrastructure for movement of cargo and passengers by sea or national waterways in an effort to promote coastal shipping in the country.
Under the scheme, projects which will be considered for assistance include construction and upgrading of coastal berths for coastal cargo and berths for passenger ferries, mechanization of coastal berths, capital dredging for operating non-major ports, construction of breakwaters for existing and greenfield non-major ports, construction of berths and jetties in national waterways and islands, and construction of platforms and jetties for hovercrafts and seaplanes.