Major Ports of India

• Indian Ports are broadly classified as Major Ports and Non-Major Ports.
• The Major Ports are under the Union List, while the Non-Major Ports are under the Concurrent List of
the Constitution of India.
• Major Ports, as defined in the Indian Ports Act 1908, are ports declared by the Government of India
through Official Gazette declaration or under existing laws as major ports.
• India has 12 major ports, which handle about 58% of sea-borne traffic.
• Of these, Ennore Port Ltd is a company, and the remaining 11 are Port Trusts governed by the
provisions of the Major Port Trusts Act of 1963.
• India has around 200 Non-Major ports, which handle about 42% of sea-borne traffic.
• The non-major ports are under the jurisdiction of respective State Maritime Boards/ State governments.
• Approximately 90% of the country's EXIM cargo is handled by volume at its ports, while around 70% is
handled by value.

Some Key Terms

• Inland Port: It is a port on an inland waterway such as a river, lake, or canal, which may or may not be
connected to the ocean. It is also used to refer to a dry port, which is a land extension of a seaport,
usually connected by rail to the docks.
• Riverine Port: Riverine ports are located on the riverfront. They are different from seaports because
the former are located in coastal areas. Riverine ports are commonly referred to as inland ports, and
they are mostly extensions of seaports.
• Natural Harbour: A harbour is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be
docked. Ports are human-made facilities, whereas Harbors are mostly natural.
• Trans-shipment: Transshipment or transshipment at sea is done by transferring goods such as cargo,
personnel, and equipment from one ship to another. It is a common practice in global fisheries and
typically takes place between smaller fishing vessels and large specialised refrigerated transport vessels,
also referred to as “reefers”, that onload catch and deliver supplies.
• Tidal Port: A tidal port is one in which the level of water within the port varies with the change in
the level of water in the oceans. Tidal ports are mostly located near coastal areas.

Important for Prelims

• Oldest Port in India: Lothal Port of Gujarat

• Biggest & Famous port during the Mughal Period: Surat Port

• Deepest Port: Gangavaram Port (Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh)

• Largest Container Port: Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT)
• Largest Natural Port: Mumbai Port

• Largest Artificial Port: Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) or Nhava Sheva

• Largest Port by volume of cargo handled: Kandla Port

• Largest Port on the East Coast: Chennai Port

• First Port built after the independence of India: Kandla Port

• Southernmost Port in India: Tuticorin Port
• Highest number of ports: Maharastra

East Coast

Kolkata Port (KoPT)

• KoPT, on the left bank of the Hugli River, is the first major and the only riverine port in India.
• It is officially known as the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust of Kolkata.
• It is the oldest port among the major ports of India.
• It is confronted with the problem of silt accumulation in the Hugli River.
• The dynamic nature of the estuary results in frequent shifting of the navigation channels.
• The major export items are iron ore, leather, cotton textiles, etc.,
• The major import items are wheat, raw cotton, iron & steel, etc.,
⇨ The Bhagirathi – Hugli river system is a major distributary of the River Ganga in West Bengal.
⇨ The entire stretch of 280 km of river from Saugor to Nabadwip is tide-influenced throughout.

Why does Kolkata Port need constant dredging of Hooghly?

• Kolkata is a tidal port that serves as a port during high tide when the water in the Hooghly rises.
• But with high tide, a lot of sediment is also deposited in the Hooghly.
• Therefore, the river has to be constantly dredged to clear out sediments to ensure the depth of the river
remains sufficient to allow large ships to enter the port.

Haldia Port (or Haldia Dock Complex)

• Haldia Port (or Diamond Harbour) is located at the confluence of the Haldi and Hugli Rivers.
• It was built to reduce the congestion at Kolkata port.
• The port is the primary of two dock facilities managed by the Kolkata Port Trust, with the other being
the Kolkata Dock System situated approximately 100 km upstream.

Paradip Port (PPT)

• PPT is a natural port near the confluence of the Mahanadi River and the Bay of Bengal.
• It is the first major port on the East Coast commissioned after independence.
• Late Biju Patnaik, the then CM of Odisha, is the founder of this only major port of the state.
• Iron ore is the major export item of this port.
• The major imports are crude oil, fertilisers, etc.,
• Paradip Port serves an extensive hinterland spanning the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh,
Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.

Highest Cargo Handing Major Port

• The Paradip Port Authority (PPA) has achieved a remarkable milestone by achieving an unprecedented
cargo throughput of 145.38 million metric tonnes (MMT) in the fiscal year 2023-24.
• This achievement makes it the top cargo-handling major port in the country, surpassing previous
records set by Deendayal Port, Kandla.
• Also, Paradip Port's berth productivity is the highest among all ports in the country.

Visakhapatnam Port (VPT)

• VPT, located midway between Kolkata and Chennai, is the only major port in Andhra Pradesh.
• It is a natural port, and the Meghadrigedda River joins the harbour area in the Inner Harbour.
• It is a breakwater and large seaport-type port.
• The main trade items handled by this port are Coking Coal, Iron Ore, Gypsum, Manganese Ore, Coke,
Steam Coal, etc.,
• Manganese Ore is the major export item from this port.

Tuticorin Port (TPT)

• TPT is officially known as the V.O. Chidambaram Port.
• It is located strategically close to the East-West International Sea routes.
• Located in the Gulf of Mannar, sheltered by Sri Lanka to the southeast and India to the west, it is
protected from storms and cyclonic winds.
• This artificial port is the fourth-largest container terminal in India.
• It is Tamil Nadu’s third international port in Tamil Nadu and second-largest all-weather port.
• Its principal exports include general cargo, construction materials, liquid cargoes, sugar, granite, and
limonite ore.
• Major imports include coal, cement, fertilisers, raw fertiliser materials, rock phosphate, petroleum
products, petroleum coke, and edible oils.

Chennai Port (ChPT)

• Chennai Port, the third oldest major and second largest port in the country, is in Tamil Nadu.
• As an artificial harbour, the port faced vulnerability to cyclones and sand accretion from underwater
currents, reducing the draft.
• The primary exports include iron ore, leather, automobiles, and cotton textiles.
• The major imports comprise wheat, raw cotton, machinery, iron, and steel.
Ennore Port
• Ennore Port (or Kamarajar Port) is located about 24 km north of Chennai Port.
• It is the 12th major port of India and the first port in India which is a public company.
• The Kamarajar Port is the only corporatised major port and is registered as a company.
• It is incorporated as Ennore Port Limited under the Companies Act of 1956.
• It is an artificial port.
• The primary exports consist of automobiles, iron ore, etc.,
• The major imports include bulk shipments of propylene oxide.

Port Blair Port

• Under the Indian Ports Act of 1908, the GoI has declared the Port Blair Port with its territorial
jurisdiction over all ports of the A&N Islands.
• Major Port Trusts Act of 1963, has become applicable to the Port Blair Port.
• Despite GoI's plan for it to be the major port, no action has been taken.
West Coast

Kandla Port
• Kandla Port (or Deendayal Port) is located on the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat.
• It is a natural harbour in the Kutch district near the city of Gandhidham.
• It is the largest public port based on the volume of cargo handled.
• It was constructed in the 1950s as the chief seaport serving western India after the partition.
• The major import items of this port are petroleum, chemicals, steel, iron machinery, etc.,
• The major exports from this port are grains, processed food products, textiles, etc.,
• It has a modern container terminal and a dry dock facility.

Tuna Tekra Deep Draft Terminal

• PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the all-weather Tuna Tekra deep draft terminal at the
Global Maritime India Summit 2023 in Gujarat.
• This state-of-the-art greenfield terminal will be developed in PPP mode.
• It will be a gateway for Indian trade via the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

Mumbai Port
• Mumbai Port is situated in Thane Creek on the lee side of Salsette/Mumbai Island.
• This is an all-weather natural port and well protected from the fury of sea waves.
• Since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Mumbai Port became India's principal gateway, playing a
pivotal role in the country's trade and commerce development.
• It is India's largest port in terms of size and shipping traffic.
• The major export items are textiles, raw cotton, etc.,
• The primary imports are petroleum, petroleum products, fertilisers, chemicals, paper, raw cotton, etc.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT)

• Jawaharlal Nehru Port (or Nhava Sheva) is a prominent seaport in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• It is the largest public container port in India.
• It has developed a multi-product Special Economic Zone on its owned freehold land to attract
international capital and global manufacturing giants.
• The key exports include textiles, sporting goods, carpets, textile machinery, boneless meat, as well as
chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
• The significant imports encompass chemicals, machinery, plastics, electrical machinery, vegetable oils,
aluminium, and other non-ferrous metals.
• The JNPA's hinterland covers a large part of India, including the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
Gujarat, Karnataka, and most of North India.

Marmugao Port
• Mormugao Port is situated at the entrance of the Zuari estuary in Goa.
• 39% of India's iron ore exports go through Mormugao.
• The hinterland of the port covers the states of Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
• The major imports include coal, iron ore, petroleum products, fertilisers, chemicals, cement, timber, etc.,
• The primary exports are iron ore, manganese ore, granite, bauxite, pellets, and other minerals.

New Mangalore Port

• New Mangalore Port is situated in Panambur, Mangalore.
• It is the only major port of Karnataka.
• Primary exports encompass iron ore concentrates and pellets, manganese, cashews, iron ore fines,
granite stones, coffee, and containerised cargo.
• It is a natural port.
• Major imports include LPG, finished fertilisers, phosphoric acid, crude and petroleum products, timber
logs, wood pulp, liquid ammonia, and other liquid chemicals.
• The hinterland of the port includes the states of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.

Cochin Port
• Cochin port lies on two islands, Willingdon and Vallarpadam, in the Lake of Kochi in Kerala.
• This natural port is a major port on the Arabian Sea – Laccadive Sea – Indian Ocean Sea route.
• It is the first transshipment port in India.
• The imports of this port are chemical fertilisers, mineral oils, etc.,
• The major exports are tea and coffee.
• The hinterland of the port includes the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and parts of Tamil Nadu.
• It acts as a gateway for trade with neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, and the Middle East.

Mundra Port
• Mundra Port is the largest private port and the largest container port in India.
• It is located on the north shores of the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat.
• This deep-draft, all-weather port is the largest coal import terminal in India.
• It is also a special economic zone (SEZ).

[UPSC 2023] Consider the following pairs:

Port Well known as
1. Kamarajar Port : First major port in India registered as a company
2. Mundra Port : Largest privately owned port in India
3. Visakhapatnam Port : Largest container port in Port India
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

a) Only one pair

b) Only two pairs
c) All three pairs
d) None of the pairs
Answer: b) Only two pairs

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

• IMEC is a proposed economic corridor to enhance connectivity and economic integration among Asia,
the Middle East, and Europe.
• It will span from India to Europe through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Greece.
• It will include railway lines, shipping lanes, and road networks.
• Indian ports that will be connected to IMEC: are Mundra (Gujarat), Kandla or Deendayal Port (Gujarat),
and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (Navi Mumbai).
• The IMEC was announced at the G20 summit in New Delhi.
• It is a counter to China's Belt and Road Initiative (aims to connect China to Europe & Africa).
• The IMEC comprises two separate corridors: the East Corridor (India to the Persian Gulf) and the
North Corridor (the Persian Gulf to European ports).
• The IMEC also focuses on digital connectivity, promoting fiber optic cables and data centers along the
corridor.

Sagarmala Project

• The Sagarmala Project is a flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and
Waterways (MoPSW).
• It aims to foster port-led development in India by leveraging its 7,500 km coastline, 14,500 km of
navigable waterways, and strategic global maritime position.
• The Union Cabinet approved the concept of Sagarmala in 2015.
• The vision is to reduce domestic and EXIM cargo logistics costs with optimised infrastructure
investment.
• The five pillars of the Sagarmala Project are:
1. Port modernisation & new port development
2. Port connectivity enhancement
 3. Port-led industrialisation
4. Coastal community development
5. Coastal shipping and Inland water transport
• Projects under Sagarmala are implemented by relevant Major Ports, Central Ministries, State Mari-
time Boards, State Governments, and other agencies.

Six Megaports planned under Sagarmala Project

State Place Port
Kerala Vizhinjam Vizhinjam International Seaport
Tamil Nadu Colachel Colachel Seaport
 Maharashtra Vadhavan (near Dahanu) Vadhavan Port
Karnataka Tadadi Tadadi port
Andhra Pradesh Machilipatnam Machilipatnam Port
West Bengal Sagar Island Sagar Island Port

National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCWPC)

• Under the Sagarmala Scheme, NTCWPC has been established in IIT Chennai.
• The institute acts as a technological arm of the MoPSW.
• It aims to drive technological advancements in India’s port and maritime sector.
• The NTCWPC focuses on creating innovative solutions to address challenges faced by ports, waterways,
and coastlines. This includes research and development in areas like:
o Port infrastructure design and engineering: Optimizing port layouts, breakwaters, and
navigation systems.
o Dredging and siltation management: Implementing efficient methods for maintaining
navigable channels.
o Ocean renewable energy: Harnessing ocean resources like waves and currents for
generating sustainable power.
o Autonomous platforms and vehicles: Utilizing drones and underwater robots for port
inspection and surveillance.
o Coastal erosion and climate change mitigation: Developing strategies to manage rising
sea levels and coastal erosion.

Comprehensive Port Connectivity Plan (CPCP)

• Under PM Gati Shakti, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) prepared
a Comprehensive Port Connectivity Plan (CPCP).
• It was prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Ministry
of Railways (MoR), Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) and State Maritime Boards.
• CPCP incorporates road and rail projects along with port projects.
• These projects aim to enhance ports' last mile and hinterland connectivity.
• The projects initiated through the Sagarmala Program and those outlined in the CPCP prioritize
enhancing the final stretch and immediate connectivity of ports to their hinterlands.

PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity

• PM Gati Shakti is a digital platform that brings 16 ministries together for integrated planning and
coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.
• It will incorporate the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like
Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN, etc.
Detail on PM Gati Shakti Scheme > PMF IAS CA August 2023 Monthly Compilation

Vizhinjam International Seaport Project

• Vizhinjam Port is India's first deepwater trans-shipment port near Thiruvananthapuram.

• Adani Ports and SEZ Private Ltd (India’s largest commercial port operator) is building this multi-
purpose seaport on a DBFOT model.
• The port is expected to compete with Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai.
• Its capacity in the first phase is 1 million TEU, which can be increased to 6.2 million TEU.
• The port is strategically located near the international shipping route connecting Europe, the Persian
Gulf, and the Far East.
⇨ Trans-shipment port: It is a port where cargo is transferred from one ship to another.
⇨ DBFOT model: A private company designs, builds, finances, operates, & maintains a public
infrastructure project for a specific time, then transfers it back to the public sector.
⇨ TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units): It is a unit of measurement used to measure the capacity
of container ships and ports. 1 TEU = Volume of a standard 20-foot shipping container.

Advantages of Vizhinjam International Seaport as a Trans-shipment Port

 Natural depth: The port has a natural depth of 18 m, which means it can accommodate large container
ships without dredging.
 Strategic location: It is on the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula, near the international shipping
route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf, and the Far East.
 Good connectivity: The port is well-connected to the rest of India by road and rail.
Why India Needs a Trans-shipment Port?
• India has 12 major ports but lacks a mega-port for ultra-large container ships.
• So, 75% of India's trans-shipment cargo is handled at foreign ports like Colombo, Singapore, and
Klang.
• The benefits of the development of an Indian trans-shipment port are:
 Forex savings
 Foreign direct investment
 Increased economic activity at other Indian Ports
 Development of related logistics infrastructure
 Employment generation
 Improved operation/logistics efficiencies
 Increase in revenue share
 Development of allied businesses

Vadhavan Port Project

• It is an ‘All Weather, All Cargo’ satellite port that can handle deep draft ships and larger vessels.
• Satellite port: A satellite port is a port, either created or pre-existing, in a nearby community to a port
that is nearing capacity and requires relief from the current heavy loads.
• Satellite ports help overcome issues such as limited land availability and draft adequacy, which is the
depth of water to which a ship sinks according to its load.
• It is part of the Centre’s Sagarmala Initiative that aims to make Indian ports major contributors to the
country’s GDP.
• The Project will be implemented by a JNPT-led Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in constructing basic
infrastructure.
• It will be India’s 13th major port.
• The port will be located close to the JNPT in Uran, Navi Mumbai.
• It is expected to handle the spillover in container vessel traffic at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, which is
India’s top container port.
• The Vadhavan Port will have a dedicated road and rail service so as not to interfere with the local traffic,
thereby avoiding any clutter within the local transportation.
• The Vadhavan port will be developed on a “landlord model”.
• All business activities would be undertaken under PPP mode by private developers.

Draft Indian Ports Bill

• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has circulated a draft of the Indian Ports Bill 2020 for
public consultation which will repeal & replace the Indian Ports Act, of 1908.

Key Provisions of Bill

• The draft Indian Ports Bill, 2020 aims to enable the structured growth and sustainable development of
ports to attract investments in the Port sector for optimum utilization of the Indian Coastline by
effective administration and management of ports
• It proposes to transform the existing management system for minor ports, which are presently
under the jurisdiction of state governments or state maritime boards.
• It empowers the MSDC to perform such other functions including such administrative and financial
functions as may be entrusted to it by the Central Government.
• It seeks to provide increased opportunities for public & private investments in the Indian maritime
and ports sector.
• Conventions about safety, security, and prevention of pollution are incorporated in the new IP Bill
2021 for implementation.
• The proposed bill ensures the right of the central government to notify a new port and the channels
it will use, and limit the boundary of the port.

Harit Sagar 2023 – the Green Port Guidelines

• Objective: Achieving Zero Carbon Emission Goal

• Emphasizes ecosystem dynamics in port development, operation, and maintenance.
• Aligns with the 'Working with Nature' concept.
• Minimizes impact on biotic components of harbor ecosystem.
• Provides a comprehensive framework for Major Ports.
• Aims for quantified reduction in carbon emission over defined timelines.
• Focused implementation and close monitoring of Green Initiatives.

Focus Areas
• Utilization of Clean/Green energy in Port operation
• Development of capabilities for storage, handling, and bunkering Greener Fuels
 Green Hydrogen
 Green Ammonia
 Green Methanol / Ethanol, etc.

Issues and Challenges with Indian Ports

• Draught Levels: Most Indian container handling ports lack the capability to handle large container
vessels due to inadequate depth; a minimum draft depth of 18 m is needed to enable mother vessels to
dock at ports.
• Connectivity to Ports: Weak hinterland connectivity between production centers & gateway ports often
leads to higher costs & delays because of sub-optimal mode choices.
• Transhipment Port: A large percentage of containers in India are currently transshipped through other
ports, such as Colombo, Singapore, Dubai & Salah due to the absence of a transshipment port in the
country. This led to additional costs and delays due to the feeder voyage from India to the hub port.
• High turnaround times: Ports in India suffer from high turnaround times for ships. For example, in
Singapore, the average ship turnaround time is less than a day. However, in India, it is over two days.
• Port congestion: Port congestion due, to container volume, shortage of handling equipment, and
inefficient operations is a major concern. Example: In Nhava Sheva port
• Sub-optimal Transport Modal Mix: Lack of requisite infrastructure for evacuation from major and non-
major ports leads to sub-optimal transport modal mix
• Lengthy inspection and scrutiny: Though customs operations in India are rapidly going paperless and
converting to digital, inspections and scrutiny continue to be lengthy for cargo and other shipping
operations.
• Inadequate Infrastructure and Technology Issues: Lack of adequate berthing facility, number of
berths, and sufficient length for proper berthing of the vessels at the Non-Major Ports is another
problem. Most Non-Major Ports do not have proper material handling equipment in place which could
facilitate a quick turnaround
• Further many ports also lack adequate navigational aids, facilities, and IT systems.
• The major problem with regulation is that major and non-major ports fall under different
jurisdictions. Further, the regulatory framework is rigid.
• Environmental Pollution: During the operation of ports, spillage or leakages from the loading and
unloading of cargo and pollution from oil spills are common due to poor adherence to environmental
laws and standards. The water discharged during the cleaning of a ship and the discharge of ballast
water is a threat to marine ecosystems.
• Manpower Issues: Lack of adequate training, falling manpower quality, and opposition to reform are
major issues.

Government Initiatives

• In 2020 Ministry of Shipping was renamed as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• In 2021, the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 was passed by the Parliament of India. The bill aims to
decentralize decision-making & reinforce excellence in major port governance
• In the Union Budget 2021, the government announced subsidy funding worth Rs. 1,624 crore to Indian
shipping companies to encourage merchant ship flagging in the country.
• All the Major Ports have been instructed to take immediate steps to complete the Cyber Security Audit
for the entire infrastructure installed at the Ports and take appropriate measures to strengthen Cyber
Security at the Ports.
• The Government of India allows 100% FDI under the automatic route for port development projects.
• Project UNNATI was launched to benchmark the operational and financial performance of the 12 major
ports with selected Indian private ports and best-in-class international ports for identifying improvement
areas,
• Coastal Berth Scheme: The scheme aims to provide financial support to ports/state governments for
the creation of infrastructure for the movement of cargo/passengers by sea or National Waterways. This
scheme was integrated under the Sagarmala Programme
• SAROD-Ports: SAROD-Ports were launched in 2020 for the affordable & timely resolution of
disputes in a fair manner and enrichment of the Dispute Resolution Mechanism with a panel of technical
experts as arbitrators. This institution will promote ease of doing business in the maritime sector because
of the fast, timely, cost-effective, and robust dispute resolution mechanism.
• The government of India plans to modernize these ports and has approved a project called Sagarmala.

[UPSC 2016] Recently, which of the following States has explored the possibility of
constructing an artificial inland port to be connected to the sea by a long navigational
channel?
a) Andhra Pradesh
b) Chhattisgarh
c) Karnataka
d) Rajasthan
Explanation
• Rajasthan has investigated the feasibility of establishing an artificial inland port, which would be linked
to the sea through an extensive navigational channel.
• It aims to boost water transportation within the state and offer an alternative mode of transit to
complement the current road and rail networks.
Answer: d) Rajasthan
[UPSC 1995] Of the four places marked 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the map, the one indicating a tidal port is
:

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
Explanation

• Kanda is a tidal port.

Answer: d) 4