Parliament passes Bill to consolidate law relating to ports, facilitate ease of doing business
The Indian Ports Bill 2025, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12, was introduced in the Upper House on Monday amid noisy protests by the Opposition.
Opposition MPs later staged a walkout demanding discussion on electoral rolls revision in Bihar.
Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the ministry was neglected by the Congress, alleging that in ten years from 2004 to 2014, only one new legislation was brought.
On the other hand, he said, the NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought in 11 new legislations in the last 11 years.
Mr. Sonowal also listed the new legislations related to the ministry brought by the Modi government.
"They [Congress] did not have any legislative reform in their mind," he asserted, adding the over 100 years old laws made by the British have become outdated and were not in sync with modern times.
Mr. Sonowal said, "If the laws are modern, competitive, effective, business friendly, eco-friendly and people-friendly then only we can take the country forward through this bill.
Referring to the Opposition who had staged a walkout, Mr. Sonowal said Congress and their alliance at least should "develop sense of respect to the nation because they are also citizens of the country".
They have also a big role to play as Opposition, the minister said, adding the role of Opposition is not only to oppose but they always posses two important qualities of "responsibility and responsiveness".
"But in this case, I have seen it. It is missing, very sad," Mr. Sonowal said.
The Minister said the Indian Port Bill 2025 has been brought after wider consultations with all stake-holders, all coastal states and users of ports.
"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," Mr. Sonowal asserted.
The Minister informed that the Bill is meticulously designed to align with the global best practices.
"In line with our international obligation, the Bill empowers the government to direct ports to establish a maritime single window system enabling seamless electronic data exchange and improving the ease of doing business," the Minister said.
He informed that the Bill decriminalises certain offences and removes outdated provisions replacing them with modern and relevant provisions, while ushering in more transparency in port tariff.
The Bill aims to establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports besides establishment of the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector, he said while moving the bill for consideration and passage.
The Bill also provides for the management of pollution, disaster, emergencies, security, safety, navigation, and data at ports; ensure compliance with India's obligations under international instruments to which it is a party; take measures for the conservation of ports; and provide for adjudicatory mechanisms for the redressal of port-related disputes.
It replaces the outdated provisions of the Indian Ports Act, 1908, with modern and contemporary regulations.
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