Overview of Ports in India
India has a huge 7,500-kilometer coastline and one of the world’s largest exclusive economic zones.
Sea trade has always been very important to the Indian economy.
India is looking closely at how it might improve and expand its ports in the country to meet the rising demand for maritime trade.
Importance of Ports in India
Water transportation is significant to the Indian economy, given that it is a simple, affordable, and energy-efficient method of importing and exporting heavy goods.
India’s major ports had an annual capacity of 646.10 million metric tons per year (MTPA). The major ports of India play a crucial role in facilitating trade, commerce, and economic growth by handling diverse cargo and managing efficient cargo handling, connecting the country to global markets.
States with the Majority of Ports in India
The nine coastal states of India viz. Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu are home to the country’s ports.
Ports in India are strategically located on both the eastern and western coastlines, handling high freight traffic and playing a vital role in India’s maritime trade and economy.
List of Major Ports in India
India has 13 significant seaports and more than 180 lesser ports that handle a considerable volume of container traffic.
Six of India’s 12 government-owned essential ports are on the country’s western coastline, and the other six are on its eastern coast. The Chennai Port, known as the ‘Gateway to South India’, is the largest port in the Bay of Bengal and plays a vital role in facilitating trade and commerce, particularly in the automobile industry.
13 Major Ports in India Map
India has 6100 km of primary coastline, making up roughly 7500 km of overall coastline.
There are numerous natural, artificial, and tidal ports in these coastal regions, which are spread across India’s nine coastal states.
The Kolkata port is located 200 kilometres inland on the river Hooghly, servicing Northern and Eastern India as well as neighbouring countries. It is divided into the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) and the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC), featuring dry docks, berths, jetties, and pilotage requirements.
Tuticorin Port
Tuticorin Port is the fourth-largest container terminal in India, located in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
The port serves as a crucial link for trade with China, Sri Lanka, the Mediterranean, and the USA, reflecting its global connectivity.
VOCP Port handles approximately 7% of India’s total container traffic and has a cargo volume of 36 million tons.
Port Blair
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Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust – Nhava Sheva (JNPT)
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port is one of the largest and busiest ports in India, located near Mumbai, India’s financial capital.
- It plays a crucial role in import and export activities due to Mumbai’s bustling trade environment and extensive infrastructure.
- The port has been managed by DP World since its establishment in 1989, making it one of India’s first privately managed ports.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port handles a significant portion—55%—of India’s total container cargo.
Port of Mundra
- Mundra Port is India’s largest privately managed seaport, located in Kutch, Gujarat.
- It plays a pivotal role in facilitating the nation’s import and export activities due to Gujarat’s status as a bustling business hub.
- The port has a substantial handling capacity of 5 million TEUs and 338 million metric tons of cargo.
- Mundra Port solidifies its position as a major player in maritime trade, holding the prestigious title of being the world’s largest coal import terminal.
Port of Chennai
- Chennai Port is the largest port on the Bay of Bengal coastline and the third oldest port in India.
- The port is directly linked to over 50 ports and has ISPS and ISO 14001:2004 certifications.
- The main shipments include automobiles, motorcycles, general industrial cargo, iron ore, granite, coal, fertilisers, petroleum products, and agricultural produce, making it a crucial hub for the automobile industry.
Port of Kolkata – Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust (KoPT)
KoPT is one of the largest riverine ports in India, located 200 kilometres inland and is the oldest port in operation.
The port services most of Northern and Eastern India and even neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the Autonomous Region of Tibet.
The main shipments include jute, copper, textiles, iron ores, and liquid chemicals.
O. Chidambaranar Port (VOCP)
- VOCP is a major seaport in India, located to the South of the mainland.
- The port is classified as a medium artificial harbour spanning nearly 8 sq kilometres.
- The main shipments include industrial raw materials and agricultural produce.
Port of Kandla (Deendayal Port Trust)
- Kandla is a major seaport in India, located near Gandhidham, near Kandla Creek, on the Gulf of Kutch.
- The port is managed by Deendayal Port Trust and is one of the largest ports in India.
- The main goods include petroleum products, salt, textiles, grain, and oil.
Port of Mumbai
- Mumbai Harbour is a major port in India, operated by the MbPT and spans 400 sq kilometres.
- The port is naturally protected by surrounding low-lying hills and is close to other maritime facilities in Kochi.
- The port supplies regions of Southern India and is well connected by rail, road, and air.
Port of Vishakhapatnam
- Visakhapatnam port is the largest harbour in Andhra Pradesh and is ranked 3rd in cargo volume.
- The port is close to the ports of Chennai and Kolkata and primarily services the hinterlands of Central and South India.
- The main goods include iron ore, manganese nodules, steel products, general cargo, coal, crude oil, and other petroleum derivatives.
Port of Cochin
- Kochi port lies on the Arabian Sea coast and experiences traffic from vessels on the Indian Ocean route.
- The port is managed by the Cochin Port Trust (CoPT) and has been operational since 1928.
- The port supplies regions of Southern India and is well connected by rail, road, and air.
Port of Hazira
Hazira is a vital LNG terminal and petroleum harbour on the Western coast of India, close to the city of Surat.
The port is managed and operated by Adani Hazira Port Private Limited (AHPPL).
The port is close to the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the Mumbai and Nhava Sheva Ports.
Private Ports in India
Mundra Port – The Largest Private Port in India
Mundra Port is India’s largest private port and busiest container port.
It handles 5.7 million TEU of cargo in 2020-21.
The port has 10 berths dedicated to dry bulk and three to liquid bulk.
It has a coal import terminal with an annual capacity of 40 million tonnes.
Busiest and Largest Ports in India
Busiest Port in India
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) / Nhava Sheva port, Maharashtra, is the busiest port in India for container cargo.
Largest Ports in India
Top 10 Busiest and Largest Ports in India for Trade
- Mundra Port, Gujarat
- Deendayal Port (Kandla), Gujarat
- Paradip Port, Odisha
- Visakhapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva), Maharashtra
- Mumbai Port, Maharashtra
- Haldia Port, West Bengal
- Chennai Port, Tamil Nadu
- New Mangalore Port, Karnataka
- VO Chidambaranar Port (Tuticorin), Tamil Nadu
Government Initiatives and Facts
Government Initiatives Pertaining India’s Ports
- The Government of India has brought in many initiatives to enhance the Indian ports sector, thereby promoting port-led growth in the nation.
Important Facts about Major Ports in India for UPSC
India’s Deepest Port
- Vishakhapatnam (Visakhapatnam) is India’s deepest port.
Youngest Port in India
- The youngest port in India is the Krishnapatnam Port, located in Andhra Pradesh.
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