The Sagarmala Programme is a flagship initiative (scheme) of the Government of India, administered by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, to promote port-led development in the country. The concept was approved by the Union Cabinet on March 25, 2015, with the vision to reduce logistics costs for both domestic and EXIM (Export-Import) cargo by leveraging India's 7,500 km long coastline and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways. The problem it addresses is the high logistics cost and the need to harness the maritime sector, which handles approximately 95% of India's trade by volume.
The programme works through a multi-pronged strategy structured around five strategic pillars: Port Modernization and new port development; Port Connectivity Enhancement through multimodal transport (road, rail, inland waterways); Port-led Industrialization by developing Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) and industrial clusters; Coastal Community Development focusing on skill development and tourism; and promoting Coastal Shipping & Inland Waterways. The institutional mechanism includes the National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC), which provides policy guidance, and the Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL), which was established in August 2016 to support project Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs).
The Sagarmala Programme is closely connected to other major government initiatives like Make in India, Bharatmala, Dedicated Freight Corridors, and the PM Gati Shakti master plan, acting as both an enabler and beneficiary. A significant recent change occurred in June 2025, when the Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL) was restructured and transitioned into the Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), becoming India's first Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) focused on the maritime sector to address financing gaps. The core objective of reducing logistics costs and promoting port-led prosperity has remained constant.