‘Infra not enough without forward-looking customs framework’: Experts highlight path ahead for India’s port push at THE WEEK Maritime Conclave 2026

THE WEEK Maritime Conclave 2026 highlighted how the journey ahead for India’s maritime sector is exciting, but in comparison to global ports, it becomes a major step to catch up to an ecosystem that is already five steps ahead.

For example, though the combined throughput across all of India’s major and non-major ports last year came to about 1,700 million metric tonnes (MMT), a mega-port like China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan handled 1,400 MMT on its own over the same period.

This leads to an important question, put forth by Nilabhra Dasgupta, Deputy Chairperson, Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), the moderator for the second session of THE WEEK Maritime Conclave 2026.

“Although Indian ports are growing rapidly under Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, how do we close this capacity gap with speed and scale?” he asked the panel, looking at how India’s ports are contributing to India’s prosperity, and the path ahead.

Susanta Kumar Purohit, CMD, V.O. Chidambaranar and Paradip Ports, answered this question, focused on the scenario at the Tuticorin-based port.

“The Cabinet recently approved the ₹17,000-crore Outer Harbour Project, which will be commissioned within three years to transform Tuticorin into a major transshipment hub,” he said, adding that the ₹570 crore Berth No. 1 and the ₹750 crore multi-cargo berth have already been sanctioned.

He also summed up the port’s push in terms of four verticals: ramping up cargo handling, going green better (especially since the entire port is run on renewable energy), integrating AI and IT verticals into the port’s tech framework, and developing the port ecosystem as a means to increase the ease of doing business.

Expanding on these technological frontiers, Dr Mayuri Neve, Assistant Professor, Gujarat Maritime University, again brought in global examples, such as the Port of Singapore’s automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and the Port of Rotterdam’s prowess in digital twin technology, whilst pointing out the unique storage challenges of green hydrogen bunkering.

Ultimately, she emphasised that the point was to “work with nature, and not against nature”.

However, achieving end-to-end supply chain efficiency calls for the development of a robust, multi-modal hinterland framework alongside that of the ports themselves.

This is where Vinita Venkatesh, Director at Omega Forwarders & Supply Chain Solutions, came in, stressing the need to leverage the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) to optimise EXIM freight costs.

“Infrastructure alone is insufficient without a commercially oriented, forward-looking customs framework. Beyond GIFT City and Free Trade Warehousing Zones (FTWZs), customs processes must be streamlined to transform India into a global cargo hub,” she pointed out, highlighting the key requirement that is to be addressed to truly optimise supply chains.

However, the pursuit of commercial growth must never compromise navigation safety. This was the central point made by Captain Santosh Kumar Darokar, Principal Officer cum Joint GD, Mercantile Marine Department.

"We must address how we encompass total safety, extending right from berth operations out to the anchorage zones. In future, once comprehensive inspection and scanning reports are finalised, we will be even better prepared,” he explained, citing case studies of accidents at the Paradip and New Mangalore Ports, and the insights they presented for India’s maritime safety.

The key takeaway was that ports are also not isolated facilities, but important nodes within a larger maritime network, which is why the panel offered a comprehensive look at how integrated port development is contributing to the prosperity of the nation, discussed at THE WEEK Maritime Conclave 2026, which is being held on September 25 and 26 at the Taj Skyline Hotel in Ahmedabad.

Conducted after World Maritime Day on September 24, day one of THE WEEK Maritime Conclave 2026 brings together four thematic panels discussing maritime energy security, the development of India's ports, scaling up domestic shipbuilding output and prowess, and the emergence of a future-ready maritime workforce.