parliament-clears-indian-ports-bill-to-modernise-sector

The Parliament on Monday cleared the Indian Ports Bill, 2025, paving the way for a modern legislative framework aimed at fostering integrated development of ports and improving ease of doing business across India’s coastline.

 

The legislation, already passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12, was adopted in the Rajya Sabha after a brief discussion. Opposition MPs staged a walkout demanding a debate on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.

 

Replying to the discussion, Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the new Bill would replace the more than century-old provisions of the Indian Ports Act, 1908, making them “competitive, effective, business friendly, eco-friendly and people-friendly”.

 

“They (Congress) did not have any legislative reform in their mind,” Sonowal said, adding that from 2004 to 2014 only one piece of legislation had been brought for the sector, whereas the present government had introduced 11 new laws in the last 11 years.

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He underlined that the Bill was prepared after consultations with all coastal states and stakeholders. “This is the power of reforms. This is through which we are going to make India one of the leading maritime nations in the world,” he said.

 

The minister told the Upper House that the legislation is aligned with global best practices and empowers the Centre to direct ports to set up a maritime single-window system to enable seamless electronic data exchange.

 

He added that the Bill decriminalises several provisions, introduces modern regulations, and brings greater transparency in port tariff systems. It also provides for the creation and empowerment of State Maritime Boards and a Maritime State Development Council to ensure structured growth of the ports sector.

 

The law sets out mechanisms for managing pollution, disaster, safety, security and navigation, and ensures compliance with India’s obligations under international maritime conventions. It also provides for adjudicatory mechanisms for resolving port-related disputes.