Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the Golden Jubilee Curtain Raiser Ceremony of the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) at Bharat Mandapam on 15 October, 2025, marking 50 years since the port’s establishment.

Celebrating the milestone, Union Minister Sonowal launched eight significant maritime infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing port efficiency, connectivity, and sustainability. These include a modern cruise terminal, covered storage facilities, a 150-bed multi-speciality hospital, upgraded truck terminals, and improved port access infrastructure.

The Union Minister lauded NMPA’s transition into a regional trade hub, having grown from handling minimal cargo to managing 46.01 million tonne annually, with a capacity of 104 million tonne. A new deep-draft cargo berth is under construction. Emphasising India's maritime goals, he linked port development to achieving ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ and transforming India into a USD 30 trillion economy, underscoring the critical role of ports in realizing a self-reliant maritime nation.