Sonowal Chairs High-Level Review to Fast-Track Maritime Reforms and Digital Transformation

According to an official statement, the meeting focused on strengthening governance mechanisms, improving ease of doing business, enhancing digital integration, ensuring effective grievance redressal and implementing key maritime initiatives through a structured and accountable institutional framework.

During the meeting, Sonowal directed officials to establish a structured and time-bound mechanism for the expeditious disposal of grievances, court cases, legal matters and all pending ministry-related issues. A dedicated monitoring and coordination committee will also be constituted to conduct periodic reviews, ensure accountability and facilitate timely resolution of pending matters.      Emphasising citizen-centric governance and stakeholder responsiveness, the minister stated that grievance redressal systems must focus not merely on procedural disposal but on achieving actual ground-level resolution. He also instructed departments to strengthen monitoring frameworks and ensure effective follow-up on public representations and stakeholder concerns.      In a major push towards digital governance and ease of doing business, the ministry decided to develop an integrated digital platform and mobile application under the aegis of the Directorate General of Shipping.

The proposed platform is expected to provide enhanced stakeholder interface, real-time service delivery, digital documentation, grievance redressal and integrated maritime services through a unified digital infrastructure.      The review meeting also extensively discussed the use of artificial intelligence, digital systems and data-driven governance to improve operational efficiency, transparency and service delivery across the maritime sector. Sonowal directed officials to accelerate technological integration and strengthen institutional data-sharing mechanisms to support better monitoring and policy outcomes.