Major Ports of India: List of 12 Major Ports, Locations, and Details (2024)

India’s maritime sector is of a significant size with 13 major ports (12 government-owned and one private) and 205 non-major ports along a coastline spanning 7516.6 km. Of the 12 government-owned Major Ports of India , 6 are located in the western coastline while the remaining 6 ports are located in the eastern coastline. These ports play a crucial role in providing water connectivity and trade with neighbours and the rest of the world. Let’s have a look at all the 12 Major Ports of the nation.

List of 12 Major Ports in India:-

Major Ports In Eastern Coast Of India

The eastern coastal plains of India lie between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. It is spread over the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. It is further divided into three coasts – Coromandel Coast, Andhra Coast and Utkal Coast. The major ports of India which are located in the eastern coastal plains are as follows:

1. Kolkata Port

Kolkata Port is situated in Kolkata, West Bengal; it is also referred to as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port. The oldest port in the nation is Kolkata Port. During the colonial era, it was constructed by the British East India Company and had a significant impact on trade. Out of the 12 major ports in India, this is the only one that is a river port, and ships up to 500 feet in length may dock here with ease. Haldia Dock and Kolkata Dock are the two dock systems in this port. Kolkata Dock is located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, whilst Haldia Dock is located on the western side. It is one of the busiest main ports in India and a major exporter of steel, iron ore, coal, leather, and copper.

2. Paradip Port

Odisha’s only significant port, Paradip Port, is situated in the Jagatsinghpur district. It is built at the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal and the Mahanadi rivers. It was the first major port to open for business on India’s east coast following independence, and it was named the country’s eighth-biggest port in 1966. The two principal commodities shipped at this port are coal and iron ore.

3. Visakhapatnam Port

Visakhapatnam Port, sometimes referred to as Vizag Port, is situated in the Andhra Pradesh city of Visakhapatnam. It lies between the ports of Chennai and Kolkata. Being a natural port, it’s among the nation’s oldest. It is India’s safest and deepest landlocked port. Vizag Port is the nation’s second-largest port in terms of cargo handling. The inner, outer, and fishing ports make up the port’s three ports. Alumina, coal, iron ore, oil, and pellets are a few of the main goods shipped through the Vizag port. This is where most of the nation’s iron exports originate.

4. Kamarajar Port

Chennai Port is 24 km north of Kamarajar Port, formerly known as Ennore Port. It is India’s first corporate port and the country’s first significant corporatized port. It was ranked as the nation’s twelfth-largest port. The Indian government owns 67% of the port, which is registered as a public enterprise. Moreover, it handles goods like petroleum products and iron ore, among others. Formerly called Madras Port, Chennai Port is regarded as the largest port in the Bay of Bengal and the nation’s second-biggest container port. It is the third-oldest port in India, being opened in 1881. It was constructed as India’s first container terminal in 1983.

5. Tuticorin Port

Tuticorin Port, sometimes referred to as V.O.Chidambaranar Port, is situated in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district. It is the second-biggest port in Tamil Nadu and the fourth-biggest container terminal nationwide. It is an artificial harbour that is mostly used for trade with Sri Lanka. Tuticorin Port will grow to be India’s principal port following the completion of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project, which aims to establish a shipping route over the narrow strait between India and Sri Lanka. The port’s pearl fishing operations in the Bay of Bengal are well-known. This port is used for trading goods including coal, oil, sugar, salt, petroleum products, etc.

6. Port Blair

Andaman and Nicobar has a port called Port Blair Trust. It is one of India’s principal ports and is situated on the Andaman Sea. The Port Trust is in charge of running Port Blair. As a result, Port Blair is now the sole significant port in Andaman and Nicobar and the thirteenth largest port in India.

Major Ports In Western Coast Of India

The western coastal plain of India extends from Gujarat in the north to Kerala in the south, passing through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. It is situated between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. It is further divided into four coasts – Kutch and Kathiawar coasts, Konkan coast, Kanara coast and Malabar coast. The major ports of India located in the western coasts of India are as follows:

1. Cochin Port

Cochin Port, also known as Kochi Port, is located between Willingdon Island and Vallarpadam Island which are located in Kochi Lake. The International Container Transshipment Terminal, also known as Vallarpadam Terminal, was the first transshipment terminal in India and the largest container shipment facility in the country. This facility is a part of Cochin Port. It is one of the largest ports in the country and one of the shipbuilding centres in India. Kochi port mainly deals with import and export of coffee, tea, spices, salt, fertilisers etc.

2. New Mangalore Port

New Mangalore Port is located in Mangalore, Karnataka. It is situated at the confluence of Gurupura River and the Arabian Sea. It is the seventh largest port in the country and the only major port located in the state of Karnataka. It is also the deepest inland port on the east coast of India. Petroleum products, LPG, fertilisers, iron ore are some of the products handled at this port.

3. Mormugao Port

Mormugao Port is located at the mouth of the Zuari River in the state of Goa. Mormugao Port is one of the tourist destinations in Goa. This port is the major iron ore export port of India. Apart from iron ore, goods like cotton, manganese and coconut are handled at this port.

4. Mumbai Port

Mumbai Port, also known as Bombay Port, is located in the state of Maharashtra. It is a natural harbour. It is the largest port in India and one of the oldest ports in the country. Mumbai Port is the busiest port in the country and handles about one-fifth of the country’s total exports. Jawahar Dweep is an island in the port which consists of four jetties (a long narrow structure that protects the coastline from tides and currents) for handling crude and petroleum products. It has three dock facilities – Prince’s Dock, Victoria Dock and Indira Dock.

5. Jawaharlal Nehru Port

Jawaharlal Nehru Port is also known as Nhava Sheva Port. It is located in Raigad district (Navi Mumbai) of Maharashtra. It is the largest container handling port in India and handles about 56% of the containers in the country. It is one of the busiest ports. Goods like textiles, boneless meat, carpets, pharmaceuticals, machinery, chemicals, vegetable oils are transported through this port. The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor which is built by the Indian Railways is located in this port.

6. Kandla Port

Kandla Port, currently known as Deendayal Port, is located in the Kutch district of Gujarat. It is located 90 km from the Gulf of Kutch. Kandla Port is the largest port in India in terms of cargo volume. It is one of the busiest ports in the country. Kandla port has been declared a trade free zone. Large quantities of food grains and oil are exported and imported respectively at this port. In addition, machinery, petroleum products, salts, chemicals, textiles are handled at this port.

Conclusion:-

Thus, these are the 12 major ports of India. The business situation of any country reflects the economic condition of that country. Due to sea transport being the cheapest mode of transport for export and import of heavy goods, it plays an important role in the economy of the country.

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