<p data-path-to-node="3"><b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="0">NEW DELHI</b> — In a move to structurally shift domestic freight away from overloaded highway corridors and curb national logistics overheads, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has initiated inter-ministerial evaluations on an extensive fiscal and operational incentive package under the <b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="304">Sagarmala 2.0</b> framework.</p><p data-path-to-node="4">The proposed policy blueprint is engineered to double coastal shipping’s share in India's total freight modal mix from approximately 6% to 12% by 2030, in alignment with the overarching <i data-path-to-node="4" data-index-in-node="186">Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047</i>.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="6"><b>Core Pillars of the Coastal Incentive Mechanism</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="7">The draft framework under evaluation introduces targeted fiscal cushions and priority operational rights across commercial ports:</p><ul data-path-to-node="8"><li><p data-path-to-node="8,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="8,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Baseline-Linked Operational Incentives:</b> Direct financial assistance of up to 25% on net voyage operating expenditures for coastal container feeders, pure car truck carriers (PCTCs), and Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax) operators serving designated coastal Origin-Destination (OD) pairs.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="8,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="8,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Port Tariff and Vessel-Related Charge (VRC) Concessions:</b> Uniform 40% to 50% rebates on port dues, pilotage fees, and berth hire charges across all major port authorities for dedicated domestic coastal vessels.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="8,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="8,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Green Channel Feeder Berthing:</b> Mandatory allocation of dedicated coastal berths and priority quayside berthing windows at major public and private container terminals to eliminate vessel waiting time at outer anchorages.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="8,3,0" id="p-rc_e48dc5497e91d402-295"><span data-path-to-node="8,3,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="8,3,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Capital Subventions for Indigenous Tonnage:</b> Interest subvention subsidies via the ₹25,000-crore Maritime Development Fund (MDF) to lower capital borrowing costs for domestic shipowners commissioning new coastal feeder and Ro-Ro tonnage at Indian shipyards</span><span data-path-to-node="8,3,0,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,3,0,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c751612964=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul><h3 data-path-to-node="10"><b>Accelerating Intermodal Feeder Transshipment</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="11">To ensure seamless coordination between secondary regional ports and deepwater mega-transshipment hubs—such as Vizhinjam, Vadhavan, and Chennai—the scheme establishes streamlined transshipment protocols:</p><ul data-path-to-node="12"><li><p data-path-to-node="12,0,0" id="p-rc_e48dc5497e91d402-296"><span data-path-to-node="12,0,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="12,0,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Customs and Cabotage Modernization:</b> Accelerated single-window digital manifest processing and electronic cargo tracking via the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) to ensure zero-dwell transshipment handovers between coastal feeders and mainline container liners</span><span data-path-to-node="12,0,0,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="12,0,0,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c751612964=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="12,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="12,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Aggregation of Automotive &amp; Heavy Industrial Freight:</b> Structured incentives for automobile original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and heavy machinery fabricators shifting long-haul inter-state distribution from multi-axle highway trailers to coastal Ro-Ro shipping loops.</p></li></ul><h3 data-path-to-node="14"><b>Macroeconomic and Environmental Dividend</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="15">Ministry officials noted that transporting containerized and bulk cargo by coastal sea routes is up to 60% more energy-efficient and significantly cheaper per tonne-kilometer than road transport.</p><p data-path-to-node="16" id="p-rc_e48dc5497e91d402-297"><span data-path-to-node="16,0">By integrating dedicated coastal berths, terminal mechanization, and fiscal incentives under Sagarmala 2.0, the government aims to eliminate chronic road congestion along the NH-66, NH-44, and NH-48 corridors, cut surface transport carbon emissions, and establish a resilient, waterborne domestic supply chain</span><span data-path-to-node="16,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="16,2">.</span></p>