NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Indian Ports Bill, 2025 — which seeks to replace the colonial-era Indian Ports Act, 1908 and provides for regulating of port operations with quality effort, sustainability and cooperative federalism, so as to make India a global maritime leader by the year 2047— but only after the Opposition parties had staged a walkout on the issue of special intensive revision (SIR) in Bihar.The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha last week.Ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal described the Bill as “a milestone reform that unlocks India’s maritime potential.” “Ports are not just gateways for goods, they are engines of growth, employment and sustainable development. With the Indian Ports Bill, 2025, India is not just playing catch-up but laying the foundation to become a global maritime leader by 2047,” he said before the Bill was passed by a voice vote.Prior to the discussion on the Bill, the Oppn’s demand for a debate on SIR was rejected by Chair Sasmit Patra, on the grounds that the matter was sub-judice and not related to the listed business. Leader of the House J P Nadda accused the Opposition of having no interest in discussion and wasting over 69 hours of House’s time with its irresponsible behaviour.“The Opposition only believes in anarchism and obstruction,” said Nadda.
Once the Opposition benches were empty, it was smooth sailing for the Indian Ports Bill. Almost all speakers — Mokaria Ram Bhai, Rekha Sharma, M Thambidurai, Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, B P Baishya, etc — emphasised the need to replace the archaic 1908 law with a modern piece of legislation that promotes port connectivity, environment-friendly port operations and adherence to international maritime norms.When Thambi Durai alleged movement of contraband through state govt-managed ports in Tamil Nadu, DMK MPs led by Tiruchi Siva, who had walked out earlier, stormed back into the House to counter him. This led BJP MP Ram Chander Jangra to cite violation of the rule that an MP should pay respect to the chair while entering and leaving the House. “This is not a saraay (guest house),” he complained.Sonowal, while replying to the debate, said that unlike the Congress regime that had no policy relating to ports and shipping, the Narendra Modi govt had in the past 11 years passed 11 laws in this sector.“In 2013-14, during the UPA regime, our cargo handling capacity was 5 million metric tonnes (MMT). In the last 10 years, it has gone up to 855 MMT,” he said.
