Ports in India (Indian Ports)

Sandarbha Desk
Sandarbha Desk

 

  • India has a long coastline of 7,517 Km.
  • There are 9 coastal states in India: Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
  • Ports are the gateways to India’s International Trade by sea and handle over 90% of foreign trade.
  • There are 12 major ports in India which are administered by the Ministry of Shipping of the central government. They are:
  1. Kolkata (West Bengal)
  2. Mormugao (Goa)
  3. Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
  4. VOCPT- V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust (Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu)
  5. Cochin (Kerala)
  6. Jawaharlal Nehru (Maharashtra)
  7. Kandla (Gujarat)
  8. New Mangalore ( Karnataka)
  9. Mumbai (Maharashtra)
  10. Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
  11. Kamarajar (Ennore Port- Tamil Nadu)
  12. Paradip ( Odisha)
  • Ennore Port Ltd. is a company and the remaining 11 are Port trusts.
  • In addition, there are 187 Minor/ Intermediate ports which are under the jurisdiction of their respective state governments.

Facts about major ports

  • Mormugao is the leading iron-ore exporting port of India. It also serves as a naval base.
  • VOCPT is an artificial deep sea harbor of India. It is the southernmost port of India.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Earlier Nhava Sheva) is the largest container port of India.
  • Kandla is the largest port of India by volume of cargo handled. It is a tidal port and is situated on the Gulf of Kutch.
  • New Mangalore is a deep water all-weather port. It is also known as Panambur Port. It is the only port to export Kudremukh iron ore.
  • Mumbai port handles one-fifth of India’s foreign trade with predominance in dry cargo and mineral oil from the Gulf countries. It is the busiest and the biggest port.
  • Kamarajar is registered as a company.
  • Paradip is an artificial port. It has the advantage of soft underwater soil, so that it can be deepened to any depth depending upon the need.
  • Cochin is a natural harbor. It is located on Willingdon island.
  • Kolkata is a riverine port (hooghly river). It is also the base of Indian Coast Guard. (aka Haldia Port)
  • Chennai is the oldest and an artificial port.
  • Visakhapatnam Port is the only Natural Harbor on the Bay of Bengal shore.

 

  • Mundra Port in Gujarat is India’s largest private port.
  • Under the Indian Ports Act, 1908 the Government has declared Port Blair as a major port w.e.f. 1st June, 2010. All major provisions of the Major Port Trusts act, 1963 has become applicable to it. Though Government has intended it to be the next major port, no further action has been taken on the same.
Share This Article
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *