The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. An official statement said the Bill seeks to promote integrated planning and strategic development of ports through a robust consultative framework between the Centre and States.
The statement said this Bill seeks to statutorily establish the Maritime State Development Council (MSDC). This will be a recommendatory body empowered to advise the Central and State Governments on various matters, to facilitate collaborative and long-term planning of all ports.
“MSDC will promote collaborative, data-driven planning across all ports, including formulation of a National Perspective Plan for maritime infrastructure,” the statement said while adding ports will share real-time data (cargo volumes, vessel traffic, capacity, hinterland connectivity and traffic pattern data) enabling MSDC to offer evidence-based, regionally balanced recommendations.
This Bill also encourages coastal states to formally notify State Maritime Boards, empowered with uniform administrative and managerial functions, the statement added.
State-level Dispute Resolution Committees are also being introduced to adjudicate certain port-related disputes at ports other than major ports. “The Committees can hear matters between port authorities, concessionaires, and users, with appeals directed to the respective High Courts, creating sector-specific jurisprudence,” the statement said.
