• The ministry of ports, shipping and waterways (MoPSW) has set up a high level panel for formulating the guidelines for the operationalisation of Ro-Ro (Roll-on, Roll-off) and Ro-Pax ferry services.

• When compared to traditional modes of transportation, Ro-Ro offers a number of advantages, such as shorter trip distances, lower logistics cost and less pollution.

• Besides, the committee, chaired by Deendayal Port Authority Chairman, will draft the model concession agreement for Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax terminal operator and model license agreement for operation of Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax/ fast passenger ferry.

• Generally, Ro-Ro refers to vessels that have the facility to roll-on or roll-off cargo when docked at a port. Such a system allows for easier movement of cargo. With Ro-Pax facility, people can travel in their vehicles in a vessel from and to a port.

• The panel will also look into various aspects such as safety standards of vessels, control mechanism on excess boarding of passengers/cargo, online ticketing system, revenue accounting/ sharing mechanism, statutory clearances, exclusivity periods, inclusion of new and emerging technologies.

• The ministry had circulated ‘Draft Guidelines for operationalisation of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferry service along the coast of India’ in June 2022 for stakeholder consultation.

• Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the committee will formulate and streamline the future road map of Ro-Pax ferry development in the country.

• In the Union Budget 2023-24, the government said that coastal shipping will be promoted as the energy efficient and lower cost mode of transport, both for passengers and freight, through Public Private Partnership (PPP)  mode with viability gap funding which is in line with the country’s focus on green growth.

• Under the Sagarmala programme, the MoPSW is financially supporting 51 projects — worth Rs 1,900 crore to boost the urban water transportation services in India. Out of them, 10 projects worth Rs 500 crore have already been completed.

• The ministry has operationalised Ro-Pax Ferry service between Ghogha-Hazira in Gujarat and Mumbai-Mandwa in Maharashtra under the ambit of Sagarmala.

Sagarmala programme

• The maritime sector has been the backbone of the country’s trade and has grown manifold over the years. To harness India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes, the government launched the Sagarmala programme, which aims to promote port-led development in the country.

• It was approved by the Union Cabinet on March 25, 2015.

• It holds a vision to reduce logistics cost for both domestic and EXIM cargo with optimal infrastructure investment. 

The projects under the scheme have been categorised into five pillars:

i) Port modernisation & new port development

ii) Port connectivity enhancement

iii) Port-led industrialisation

iv) Coastal community development

v) Coastal shipping and inland water transport.

• Projects under Sagarmala are being implemented by relevant major ports, central ministries, state maritime boards, state governments and other agencies. 

• Sagarmala programme was conceptualised in 2015-16 with 175 projects, which increased over the years to 802 projects worth investment of Rs 5.48 lakh crore.

• Addition of new projects in Sagarmala is a continuous process in the ministry wherein states and implementing agencies progressively submit their new proposals which are taken for consideration for funding as per their requirement. 

• In May 2022, the government announced expanding the scope of the Sagarmala Programme to 1,537 projects with an estimated cost of Rs 6.5 lakh crore.

• The National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) is the apex body providing policy directions and guidance for Sagarmala projects and reviews its implementation. The NSAC was constituted on May 13, 2015 by the Union Cabinet and is chaired by minister for ports, shipping & waterways with Cabinet ministers from stakeholder central ministries and chief ministers & administrators of coastal states and Union Territories as members.

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