India Targets 10,000 MMT Port Capacity by 2047: Sonowal

India aims to increase its port handling capacity to 10,000 million metric tonnes (MMT) by 2047, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday.

He was speaking at the golden jubilee celebration of the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), where he also inaugurated development projects worth Rs 1,507 crore.

Sonowal said that port modernisation over the last few years has brought down turnaround time for ships at major ports from 96 hours to 35 hours, while profitability of major ports has also risen significantly. “Our goal is to make India one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations by 2047,” he said.

The minister added that under the Sagarmala programme, planned investments of nearly Rs 80 lakh crore will support coastal economic zones, port connectivity, shipbuilding, and maritime logistics.

As part of the event, the port’s main entrance was renamed ‘Rani Abbakka Gate’ in honour of the 16th-century coastal queen who resisted Portuguese rule.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said coastal Karnataka will benefit from ongoing maritime reforms and upcoming port-based industrial initiatives.