HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 04: Model Answer

Question: Write a short note on Sagarmala Project. 4 Marks

Answer: 

The Sagarmala Programme is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to promote port-led development and to enhance the performance of the country’s logistics sector. It entails investing ₹8.5 trillion and generating around 10 million direct and indirect jobs.

It also aims at “transforming the existing Ports into modern world-class Ports and integrate the development of the Ports, the Industrial clusters and hinterland and efficient evacuation systems through road, rail, inland and coastal waterways resulting in Ports becoming the drivers of economic activity in coastal areas.

The four key areas/components of Sagarmala Programme –

1. Port Modernization & New Port Development: De-bottlenecking and capacity expansion of existing ports and development of new Greenfield ports.

2. Port Connectivity Enhancement: Enhancing the connectivity of the ports to the hinterland, optimizing cost and time of cargo movement through multi-modal logistics solutions including domestic waterways (inland water transport and coastal shipping).

3. Port-linked Industrialization: Developing port-proximate industrial clusters and Coastal Economic Zones to reduce logistics cost and time of EXIM and domestic cargo.

4. Coastal Community Development: Promoting sustainable development of coastal communities through skill development & livelihood generation activities, fisheries development, coastal tourism etc.

5. Coastal Shipping & Inland Waterways Transport: Impetus to move cargo through the sustainable and environment-friendly coastal and inland waterways mode.