India Cuts Major Port Turnaround Time to 49.47 Hours as Sagarmala Completes 315 Projects Adding 400 MTPA Capacity

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has released a comprehensive update on India’s maritime infrastructure progress, highlighting measurable gains in port efficiency and a strong pipeline of capacity additions under the Sagarmala Programme — achievements that take on added significance as India’s ports navigate an unprecedented stress test from the Hormuz crisis.

According to ministry data, the average vessel turnaround time at India’s major ports has declined from 52.87 hours in FY 2021-22 to 49.47 hours in FY 2024-25 — a reduction of over 3.4 hours per vessel call. Container turnaround time has similarly improved, falling from 32.39 hours to 30.08 hours over the same period. The improvements are attributed to sustained infrastructure modernisation under the Sagarmala Programme, enhanced port connectivity, digitisation of port processes, and streamlined cargo handling procedures.

Sagarmala: 315 Projects Completed, 400 MTPA Added

The Sagarmala Programme — India’s flagship port-led development initiative launched in 2015 — has now completed 315 projects, while 210 projects are currently under implementation and a further 320 are in various stages of planning. A key headline achievement is the completion of 120 port modernisation projects that have collectively added over 400 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of new port handling capacity. This represents a substantial augmentation of India’s ability to handle the growing volumes of containerised cargo, bulk commodities, and energy products that flow through its major and non-major ports.

The capacity additions are particularly timely given the current period of intense pressure on Indian ports. With vessels rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope adding 10-14 days to voyages and creating vessel bunching at port calls, ports that have invested in berth expansion, mechanisation, and yard infrastructure are better placed to manage the surge in vessel waiting times that typically accompanies major shipping disruptions.

Mundra Port Extends 15-Day Fee Waiver for Middle East Exports

In a directly related development, Mundra Port — India’s largest commercial port by volume — has announced a 15-day waiver on select port charges for cargo bound for Middle East markets, providing immediate financial relief to exporters facing the compounded burden of War Risk Surcharges, elevated freight rates, and logistics delays. The waiver is the port’s contribution to the broader package of government and port authority relief measures being rolled out for India’s exporter community.

Coastal Shipping Push and Delhi Customs Year-End Operations

The ministry also flagged a renewed push for coastal shipping as a complement to port efficiency gains — routing cargo between Indian ports by sea to reduce pressure on road and rail networks and offer shippers a cost-competitive alternative. Separately, the Delhi Customs Zone has announced that its formations will remain fully operational through the financial year-end on key dates including March 26, 28, 29, and 31, to prevent cargo clearance backlogs during one of the busiest periods of the logistics calendar. The move is particularly relevant this year given the volume of stranded and rerouted cargo that needs to be processed before the fiscal close on March 31.