CHENNAI – 5 Nov, 2026 Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, said at a Consultative Committee meeting in Puri, Odisha, that the government is working to double the share of coastal and inland waterway shipping in India's freight movement from 6% to 12% by 2047, and to attract 1 million sea cruise passengers by 2029, through two proposed initiatives: the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme and the Cruise Bharat Mission.
The Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also announced that Puri International Cruise Terminal will be developed by Paradip Port Authority (PPA) in partnership with the Government of Odisha. The project is likely to be developed at a cost of Rs 1,500 crores.
Sonowal chaired a meeting of the ministry's Consultative Committee on strengthening coastal and cruise shipping. Minister of State of MoPSW Shantanu Thakur and eight members of Parliament attended. The ministry's secretary introduced the topic by outlining measures to promote coastal and cruise shipping.