CARGOCONNECT-JUNE2026 - Flipbook - Page 33
MARITIME LOGISTICS : FOCUS
The scale of this transition is already becoming
visible through cargo-handling growth and capacity
augmentation across India’s major ports. According to
Capt. Ashish Chandna, Chief Executive O昀케cer, Allcargo Terminals, “Policy frameworks such as Maritime
India Vision 2030, Sagarmala, and Maritime Amrit Kaal
Vision 2047 aimed at constructing world-class ports
and initiating port modernisation, developing coastal
shipping and inland waterways are transforming the
country’s maritime sector.”
He further points out that “the major ports have
collectively handled 915.17 Million Tonnes (MT) of
cargo during FY 2025–26, exceeding the annual target
of 904 MT,” adding that “the growth demonstrates
continued enhancement of port infrastructure, capacity
augmentation and improved e昀케ciency.”
Importantly, India’s maritime competitiveness is also
beginning to re昀氀ect in global benchmarking exercises.
Chandna notes, “The Container Port Performance
Index (CPPI), 2023 has placed 9 Indian ports among
the Global Top 100,” while highlighting, “Jawaharlal
Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), the largest container port
in India, has surpassed 8 million TEUs in container
throughput during FY25–26.” According to him, “the
achievement re昀氀ects JNPA’s growing capacity to handle
gateway cargo.”
At the operational level, however, the transformation
is extending beyond physical infrastructure toward
process optimisation and digitally enabled execution.
From the perspective of gateway-terminal operations,
Jibu Kurien Itty, Chief Executive O昀케cer – Ports &
Terminals – Nhava Sheva, DP World, explains, “The
policy direction set by Maritime India Vision 2030,
Sagarmala and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047
is beginning to translate into visible changes across
the port ecosystem, though this remains a long-term
transformation.”
He, too, observes, “At gateways like JNPA, the
shift is gradually extending beyond infrastructure
creation towards improvements in how operations
are conducted.”
This operational transition is becoming increasingly
visible through the adoption of data-driven systems and
cargo-昀氀ow optimisation initiatives. As Itty explains,
“There are early signs of progress in areas such as
digital adoption, process streamlining and greater
focus on sustainability.” At DP World’s Nhava Sheva
terminals, he noti昀椀es how they are moving towards
more integrated and data driven operations including
vessel planning and yard management, while adding
that initiatives like Direct Port Delivery (DPD) are
contributing to improved cargo 昀氀ow.
The broader logistics ecosystem is also experiencing
structural bene昀椀ts from policy-led integration between
ports and hinterland connectivity networks. Pushpank
Kaushik, CEO & Head of Business Development
(Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Southeast
Asia) at Jassper Shipping, explains, “Policy frameworks
in India are slowly moving from intent to execution,
and that shift is starting to show at gateway terminals.”
According to him, “Initiatives like the NLP and PM
Gati Shakti are helping align port infrastructure with
915.17
904
MT
MT
of cargo handled
by India’s major
ports during FY
2025–26
annual cargo
target successfully
surpassed
road and rail connectivity, which was earlier a major
bottleneck.” Apparently, this integration is increasingly
influencing execution-level efficiency across cargo
movement cycles. Kaushik notes, “The focus is now
on reducing dwell time, improving cargo visibility, and
standardising processes across ports.”
He further highlights, “The introduction of digitising
documentation procedures, along with the creation of
port community systems, has led to decreased manual
paperwork and congestion at terminal facilities.” While
he acknowledges that there are still considerable di昀昀erences in performance among various port facilities, he
emphasises, “The direction is clearly towards making
Indian gateways more competitive in terms of cost,
speed, and reliability.”
The operational gains emerging from these
reforms are also being reflected through measurable improvements in capacity and cargo handling
efficiency. Bibhudendra Maharana, Founder and
Managing Director, Givven Logistics, 昀椀rmly points
out that policy frameworks like PM Gati Shakti, NLP
and Maritime India Vision-2030 are translating into
tangible competitiveness by slashing ship turnaround
times by nearly half and raising port capacity by 93%.
He also underlines the growing role of private-sector
participation in strengthening maritime infrastructure
ecosystems, apprising, “Public-Private Partnerships
(PPPs) models have grown from 37 to 87 projects,
driving investment and boosting capacity.” In parallel,
Maharana states that NLP and Uni昀椀ed Logistics Interface
Platform (ULIP) are bringing transparency and reducing
logistical friction, reinforcing how digitisation and
integrated planning are becoming central to India’s
evolving maritime competitiveness framework.
Alongside cargo growth and operational modernisation, sustainability-linked transformation is
also beginning to emerge as a parallel pillar within
India’s maritime policy direction. As Itty explains,
“The transition towards renewable energy and lower
emission in operations is underway and is aligned
with national priorities.” According to him, “These
developments indicate that the direction is well set,
even as consistent execution over time will be key to
achieving the intended outcomes.”
CARGOCONNECT JUNE 2026 | 33
