India and Russia are in advanced discussions on new transport routes, such as the Northern Sea Route and Eastern Maritime Corridor, between Vladivostok and Chennai, Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal told Moneycontrol.
"Discussions are at an advanced stage. On November 9, we are organising a global workshop where Russian and Indian officials will sit together to find a viable way out for the future course of action," Sonowal said in an interview with Moneycontrol on October 17 on the sidelines of the Global India Maritime Summit. The three-day summit started in Mumbai on October 17.
He added that Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, will visit India on November 9 to discuss further details on the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor, which is expected to be functional soon.
‘New route will be shorter’
The shipping ministry is in discussions with five international shipping lines for a dedicated service between the port of Chennai and the Free Port of Vladivostok.
"The new route will reduce the distance between India and Russia from the current 8,675 nautical miles to around 5,600," Sonowal said.
Both nations have agreed to train Indian seafarers in the Polar and Arctic waters at the Russian Maritime Training Institute.
MoUs for Rs 3.24 lakh crore were signed at the summit
The minister added that a majority of the memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed on the first day of the Global Maritime India Summit were in the field of green shipping, green ports, and other green initiatives.
The first day of the summit saw the signing of 34 agreements worth Rs 3.24 lakh crore.
"As part of India's vision to grow sustainably, our ministry has put an emphasis on green initiatives, which is reflected in the MoUs that were signed today," Sonowal said.
At the summit, the shipping ministry highlighted the importance of smart ports that utilise data, automation, IoT, and advanced analytics for safer and more efficient resource management.
Sonowal proposed a digital centre of excellence (DCoE) for major ports to encourage collaboration and focus on cybersecurity.
He also mentioned Harit Sagar, the green port guidelines which promote zero waste discharge and emphasise the reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle principles.
Digitising infrastructure facilities
Sonowal added that the shipping ministry is in the process of modernising, mechanising, and digitising infrastructure facilities in the shipping segment, including ports.
"India is looking to regain its lost glory in the maritime industry and aims to become one of the biggest names in the world," Sonowal said.
He added that his ministry has taken initiatives to highlight the history of maritime culture in India and use India's history as a motivator to fast-track the country's current ambitions.
"We want to highlight that India was the biggest maritime player 4,500 years ago. So, why can't it gain its standing in the world back?" Sonowal said.
Global players are now recognising India’s potential as a maritime country and are also interested in the huge market of 1.4 billion people.
"There is no doubt about India’s potential and it is our responsibility to channel and realise that potential," Sonowal said.
The former chief minister of Assam said that the government is focused on developing and improving all aspects of maritime trade in India.
"India needs to develop all aspects of its maritime ecosystem to provide the best facility to the users of ports. Whether it is international cargo, coastal cargo, inland waterways, river cruise, ocean cruise, turnaround time, international shipment category or timeline, shipbuilding, ship repairing or ship recycling, we are working toward boosting all aspects of maritime trade in India," the minister told Moneycontrol.
‘Shipbreaking yards following environmental protection norms’
Sonowal also said that the government has worked with shipbreaking yards at Alang to meet and follow international human rights and environmental protection standards.
The minister's comments come just a few months after international shipping lines highlighted that only a handful of shipbreaking yards at Alang follow human rights and environmental protection standards.
India’s ship recycling capacity has fallen drastically since FY22, with no large vessels coming to Alang in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat.
The government has decided to hold back plans to double the ship recycling capacity in the country by 2024 and is instead looking to come out with a new five-year plan to revive the industry.
Indo–Bangladesh Protocol Route
The shipping minister also said that two new waterways for round-the-year navigability are expected to be ready over the next few months, along the Indo–Bangladesh Protocol Route.
"These two routes, called Route No 5 and Route No 6, run from Maia near Farakka in India to Aricha in Bangladesh. Dredging work is also underway to ensure round-the-year navigation," the minister said, adding that with these new routes, cargo movement time will come down substantially.
Currently, there are eight routes along National Waterways 1 and National Waterways 2, Sonowal added.
He said that India is investing nearly Rs 245 crore for improving navigability along the Sirajganj-Daikhowa and Ashuganj-Zakiganj stretches of the Indo-Bangladesh route on an 80:20 cost-sharing basis.
Bangladesh will be investing around Rs 60 crore in dredging costs.
The Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route is seen as a strategic one for India, especially in relation to passenger movement and cargo transportation.
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