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BS Infrastructure Summit highlights: Average container dwell time improved to 3 days, says minister

BS Infrastructure Summit 2025 highlights: Stay tuned as Business Standard delivers live updates and expert commentary from the event

BS Web Team New Delhi
Union minister Sonowal
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said India is set to become the world’s top economy by 2047.

1 min read Last Updated : Aug 21 2025 | 5:30 PM IST

5:26 PM

We are going to become world's number 1 economy by 2047: Sonowal

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said “India will become world’s number one economy by 2047. Our target is very clear: by then, the cargo handling capacity of Indian ports will increase to 10,000 million metric tonnes. As a shipbuilding nation, we aim to be among the world’s top 10 by 2030 and top five by 2047." Read here for a detailed story.

5:03 PM

5 landmark maritime laws passed to align with global best practices, says Sarbananda Sonowal

Only one maritime law was enacted under the UPA, the NDA government has brought in 11 new legislations in the past decade. Recently, five landmark laws were passed to align India’s maritime framework with global best practices. The Indian Ports Bill 2025 now provides clear provisions for PPP and foreign investment, giving ports greater autonomy, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal stated.

4:59 PM

India’s biggest port at Vadhavan to come up under Sagarmala: Sonowal

"Nearly 840 projects worth ₹5.8 trillion are being implemented under the Sagarmala Programme, of which 272 have been completed. The Greenfield port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra, with an investment of ₹76,000 crore, will become India’s largest port by capacity," Union minister Sonowal said.

4:31 PM

Harit Sagar guidelines, hydrogen plant drive India’s green port push, says Union minister

We have framed the Harit Sagar guidelines to promote green shipping, develop green hydrogen plants at major ports, enable bunkering of green fuel, and create green corridors — for example, between Dindal Port in Gujarat and VOC Port in Tamil Nadu. This presents a huge opportunity for the private sector, requiring investments of thousands of crores. We are also introducing electric trucks for port operations, with six to seven major ports floating tenders to charter green trucks, said Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

4:25 PM

India’s average container dwell time improved to 3 days: Sarbananda Sonowal

"Average container dwell time for India, as per World Bank's logistic Performance Index report, 2023 has improved to only three days, as compared to four days for countries like UAE, South Africa," said Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

4:20 PM

India’s maritime sector set for revival under PM’s vision, says Sonowal

The UPA government was short-sighted; it took the visionary leadership of our prime minister to revive India’s maritime sector and restore it to the glory it enjoyed 5,000 years ago as a leading maritime nation. Recently, our prime minister visited Tamil Nadu to commemorate 1,000 years of the legendary maritime expedition of Rajendra Chola, said Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

4:00 PM

Greenfield airports will give India a global aviation edge, says Noida Airport CEO Christoph Schnellmann

3:53 PM

Nearly 30,000 accidents occur simply because people do not wear helmets: Union minister Nitin Gadkari

3:45 PM

India’s future lies in electric mobility, says Mani Khurana

India’s future lies in electric mobility. Railways are getting fully electrified, metros are expanding, and short-distance electric trucking should be accelerated, though long-haul trucking is not yet global, says Mani Khurana, senior energy specialist, World Bank.
 

2:59 PM

Private sector, govt policy can drive energy democratisation: ReNew's Vaishali Nigam Sinha

"It’s good to see the private sector innovating in line with government policies. Innovation on the tariffs front will encourage efficient electricity use and lead to greater democratisation. Moving this from an institutional game to the individual level will also be important," said Vaishali Nigam Sinha, chief sustainability officer, ReNew.

2:54 PM

India has huge potential in energy storage, says IRENA Deputy DG Gauri Singh

"In India, we have huge potential for storage, which is only now beginning to be recognised. Technical studies are underway, and if harnessed, this could become a very affordable way of managing energy solutions. Other options — long duration, early response, quick response — will also emerge," said Gauri Singh, deputy director-general, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

2:23 PM

My mission is to prioritise the use of hydrogen, says Nitin Gadkari

"My mission is to prioritise the use of hydrogen. This is my ambition. We are producing hydrogen from water through electrolysers and also from biomass. There is also work on producing hydrogen from petroleum. If municipal waste can be segregated into glass, metal, and plastic, the organic portion can go into biodigestion to generate hydrogen," said Union minister Nitin Gadkari.
 

2:13 PM

Not wearing helmets leads to 30,000 accidents annually, says Nitin Gadkari

"Nearly 30,000 accidents occur simply because people do not wear helmets. We passed the new road safety bill and increased fines, but the real problem lies in human behaviour," said Union minister Nitin Gadkari.

2:08 PM

India’s roads will rival US highways within 2 years, says Nitin Gadkari

"I always tell people in Uttar Pradesh that within two years, the state’s national highways will be equivalent to those in the US.  We will also transorm roads in Bihar. Some US citizens already say our roads are better than theirs," said Union minister Nitin Gadkari.

2:03 PM

Income from toll will rise to ₹1.4 trillion by 2027: Union minister Nitin Gadkari

Income from toll is ₹55,000 crore per year and we will increase it to ₹1.4 trillion in two years. Money is not the problem at all, says Union minister Nitin Gadkari.

Topics :BS SpecialBusiness Standardinfrastructure

First Published: Aug 21 2025 | 10:17 AM IST