What happened
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways says it has strengthened multimodal logistics integration through two digital platforms: Maritime Single Window (MSW) Sagar Setu and CAR-D (Cargo Data) Portal. The ministry described MSW Sagar Setu as a centralized message-exchanging platform for the maritime sector, while the Inland Waterways Authority of India developed CAR-D for cargo and cruise movement data on national waterways.
Background and earlier position
India’s logistics system has long faced coordination costs across ports, railways, roads, customs, and inland waterways. A key policy objective has been to reduce manual paperwork, improve cargo visibility, and support multimodal transport so that cargo can move across different transport modes with fewer delays and lower transaction costs.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Its cargo data portal is meant to support planning and monitoring of movement on national waterways, which are increasingly being positioned as a freight alternative alongside road and rail.
What changed now
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