Parliament approves Indian Ports Bill 2025

New Delhi, Aug 18: The Rajya Sabha on Monday approved the Indian Ports Bill 2025, which aims to consolidate laws related to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business, and ensure optimum utilisation of India’s coastline.

The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12, and now, with the approval of both the Houses of Parliament coming through, it will be sent to the President of India for her assent.

The Bill was moved in the Upper House by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, amid a ruckus by the opposition over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

The minister said that the bill aims to establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports, besides the establishment of the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector. The bill 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; provide for adjudicatory mechanisms for the redressal of port-related disputes and address matters connected therewith, Sonowal further explained.