The Sagarmala Scheme, a flagship Central Sector initiative by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, aims to boost port-led development in India by leveraging the 7,500 km coastline, 14,500 km of navigable waterways, and the country’s strategic location on global maritime trade routes.
Under the scheme, the Ministry provides financial assistance to state governments for port infrastructure, coastal berth projects, road and rail links, fish harbours, cruise terminals, Ro-Pax ferry services, skill development, and coastal community upliftment.
In Tamil Nadu, 18 projects have been sanctioned under Sagarmala, with a total outlay of around Rs 9,090 million. Of this, approximately Rs 4,030 million has already been released. Notable completed projects include: Coastal cargo berth at Chennai Port (Rs 800 million project cost, Rs 300 million sanctioned and released), Fishing harbours at Poompuhar (Rs 1,480 million), Mookaiyur (Rs 1,139 million), Kuthakal (Rs 740 million), and Chinnamuttom (Rs 740 million), National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts at IIT Chennai (Rs 770.3 million), and Modern elevated steel bridge in Kanyakumari for tourist access (Rs 310.5 million).
Other key initiatives include the truck terminal at V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Rs 250 million), dredging works (Rs 980 million), skill development programmes, and tourist berthing facilities at Agni Theertham.
Ongoing projects include Phase II of the Coastal Districts Skill Development Programme and the construction of berthing facilities in Rameswaram. This information was shared by Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
