MARITIME SUPPLY CHAIN COMPETITIVENESS IN INDIA THROUGH MEGA PORT DEVELOPMENT, TRANSSHIPMENT HUBS AND OPERATIONAL OPTIMIZATION UNDER MAKV 2047

This research examines the strategic transformation of India’s maritime infrastructure to enhance supply chain competitiveness, aligned with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Despite India’s significant economic growth, port performance has not kept pace with rising trade volumes, revealing critical structural inefficiencies. Using a mixed-methods approach (QUAN → qual), this study investigates three primary pillars: mega port development, the expansion of domestic transshipment hubs and operational optimization. Quantitative analysis reveals a projected cargo handling requirement of 7,000 MMTPA by 2047, necessitating a shift toward "next-generation" ports capable of handling 24,000 TEU mega-vessels. Furthermore, the study identifies a significant transshipment leak, where 68% of Indian containers are currently handled at foreign hubs (such as Colombo and Singapore), resulting in an annual revenue loss of USD 200–220 million. Findings also highlight that India’s average vessel turnaround time of 2.9 days significantly lags behind global benchmarks of under 24 hours. Through comparative case studies of global leaders like Singapore and Rotterdam, the research proposes actionable strategies for infrastructure scaling and digital optimization. The study concludes that developing strategic hubs at Vizhinjam and Galathea Bay, coupled with widespread automation, is essential for reducing logistics costs by 25% and positioning India as a central node in global maritime trade routes.