List of Major important ports in India

India, with its vast coastline stretching over 7,500 kilometers, is dotted with several important ports that play a crucial role in the country's trade and economy. An understanding of the key ports in India, their geographical location, and operational significance is fundamental for aspirants of the UPSC Civil Services Examination.

Important Major Ports in India

Major Ports in India:

India has a total of 13 major ports, of which 12 ports are Government-owned and 1 is private. (Kamarajar Major Port in Ennore is privately owned).
The country has 7517 kilometres of coastline and its major ports handled 795 million tonnes of cargo in FY23.

List of Major important ports in India — (Current Major Ports in India)

About Vadhavan Port

Vadhavan Transhipment Port when developed will be a deep-sea port in Palghar district of Maharashtra.
The port will be built on coast of the Arabian Sea.
Vadhavan port will form a major part of the proposed ‘India Middle-East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC’).
It’s a key project within the Indian government’s Sagarmala initiative to enhance the performance of the country’s logistics sector.

Major Ports of India on Eastern Coast:

1. Kolkata Port

Kolkata Port, now called Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, is India’s oldest major river port situated in Kolkata, West Bengal.
It was built by the British East India Company.
Unlike most ports, Kolkata is a freshwater port with no salt content.
It has two main sections: Kolkata Dock in the city and a Deep-water dock at Haldia Dock Complex.

2. Paradip Port

Paradip Port is a natural, deep-water harbour on the East coast of India in Paradip, in Odisha,
It is where the Mahanadi River meets the Bay of Bengal.
The port is managed by the Paradip Port Authority (PPA), which is an independent corporation fully owned by the Government of India.

3. Visakhapatnam Port

Visakhapatnam Port is one of India’s twelve big ports and the main port of Andhra Pradesh.
It’s the third largest state-owned port in India in terms of cargo volume, and the biggest on the Eastern Coast.
Positioned about halfway between Kolkata Port and Chennai Port, it is situated at a strategic location along the Bay of Bengal coast.

4. Kamarajar Port

Kamarajar Port Limited, previously known as Ennore Port, sits on the Coromandel coast in Tamil Nadu.
It is India’s 12th major port and the first to be a public company and the only major port organized as a company.
Chennai Port Trust took over major ownership (90%) of Kamarajar Port Limited from the government

5. Chennai Port

Chennai Port, previously called Madras Port, is India’s second-largest container port, after Mumbai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
It’s the biggest port in the Bay of Bengal.
Maritime trade through the port began much earlier in 1639 on the undeveloped coast.

6. Tuticorin Port

The V.O. Chidambaranar Port is located in Tamil Nadu, and is one of India’s 13 major ports.
It was designated as a major port in 1974.
It ranks as the second-largest port in Tamil Nadu and the third-largest container terminal in India.
The V.O. Chidambaranar Port is man-made.

Major Ports of India on Western Coast

The Western Coast of India is dotted with several major ports that are instrumental in handling a significant portion of the country’s maritime trade.
The Western coastal plains of India extend from Gujarat in the North to Kerala in the South, passing through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa.
It lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.

7. Kandla Port

Kandla Port, officially renamed as Deendayal Port Trust in 2017, is a vital maritime facility located on the northwestern coast of India, in the Kutch District of Gujarat.
Established in 1952, the port was constructed to serve as a major trading hub, especially after the partition of India, which led to the loss of the Karachi port to Pakistan.

8. Jawaharlal Nehru Port

Jawaharlal Nehru Port, also known as Nhava Sheva, is the largest container port in India.
Located in Maharashtra, close to Mumbai, it was commissioned in 1989 to augment the port capacity of Mumbai.
Managed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, it plays a pivotal role in India’s international trade, handling a significant portion of the country’s containerized cargo.
It is the busiest port in India in terms of container traffic. It handles the largest volume of containerized cargo among all the ports in India.
The port’s strategic location near Mumbai, India’s financial capital, and its state-of-the-art facilities contribute to its status as the busiest port in the nation.

9. Mumbai Port

Mumbai Port, one of India’s oldest major ports, is located on the west coast in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Established in 1873, it has played a vital role in the maritime trade of India.
Primarily handling bulk cargo, it is known for its deep natural harbour and strategic location, serving both as a key facility for imports and exports and as a hub for passenger traffic.

10. Mormugao Port

Mormugao Port, located in Goa, is one of the country’s premier iron ore export ports.
Established in 1888, it’s a natural harbour that has played a significant role in the maritime trade, particularly in the export of iron ore from India.
Over the years, Mormugao has diversified its cargo handling capabilities to include other bulk and general cargoes.

11. New Mangalore Port

New Mangalore Port, situated in Karnataka.
Established in 1974, it is known for handling a diverse range of cargoes including crude oil, LPG, coffee, and cashew.
It plays a vital role in the economic development of the region, serving the hinterland of Karnataka as well as parts of Kerala.

12. Cochin Port

Established in 1928, it plays a crucial role in the maritime trade of the region.
The port is strategically positioned along major international sea routes and has a natural harbour.
Cochin Port facilitates the export and import of goods and is known for its container transhipment facility.

13. Port Blair

The 13^th major port is Port Blair Port which is a seaport in South Andaman district of Andaman and Nicobar in India.

Located on the Andaman Sea, it is one of major ports in India.
All major provisions of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, have become applicable to the port of Port Blair.
It is the only major port in Andaman and Nicobar.

Read: Ports Infrastructure of India

1. Kamarajar Port is the only major port organized as a company.

2. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port is India’s oldest major river situated on the western coast of India.

3. Mumbai port is the busiest port in India in terms of container traffic.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only

(b)2 and 3 only

(d)1 and 2 only

Answer: (a)

Statement 1 is correct: Kamarajar Port Limited, previously known as Ennore Port, sits on the Coromandel coast in Tamil Nadu. It is India’s 12th major port and the first to be a public company and the only major port organized as a company.

Statement 2 is not correct: Kolkata Port, now called Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, is India’s oldest major river port situated in Kolkata, West Bengal. (Eastern coast)

Statement 3 is not correct: Jawaharlal Nehru Port, also known as Nhava Sheva, is the largest container port in India. Located in Maharashtra, close to Mumbai, it was commissioned in 1989 to augment the port capacity of Mumbai. It is the busiest port in India in terms of container traffic. It handles the largest volume of containerized cargo among all the ports in India.

Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.