Detailed Major Ports in India [MAP] - UPSC Colorfull notes (2024)

Major Ports in India

The Indian central government owns and governs 13 major ports in India under the Major Port Authority Act, 2021. These 13 major ports include the two ports of Kolkata – Kolkata Port and Haldia Port – which are counted as one port named Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port. If counted as one entity, there would be 12 major ports in India.

These 13 major ports have 275 berths and operate 80 berths under public-private partnership (PPP) agreements with private operators, while the government directly operates the remaining berths. Additionally, state governments or state maritime boards manage 213 non-major ports spread across the coastline and islands of India.

Of these non-major ports in India, 67 actively handle cargo – 42 ports have direct operation by state governments of India while private operators operate 25 ports through PPP contracts.

The 13 major ports of India are Deendayal, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Tuticorin, Chennai, Ennore, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata Port and Haldia Port (which would count as one Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port).

Maharashtra hosts 2 out of the 13 major ports of India, the most of any state, while Tamil Nadu hosts 3 non-major ports. West Bengal contains the highest number of non-major ports at 50, although the state government directly operates only 1. In total, across India’s 225 ports, 107 ports currently have some level of private sector participation through PPP contracts. However, the state and central governments retain ownership of the land and waterfronts associated with these ports of India.

13 Major Ports in India MAP

13 Major Ports in India Interactive MAP

13 Major Ports in India

1. Syama Prasad Mookerjee – Kolkata Port

The Syama Prasad Mookerjee – Kolkata Port is the oldest functional major port in India which sits along the Hooghly River in Kolkata, West Bengal. This riverine harbor has a lengthy navigation route spanning 223 kilometers inclusive of sea and river sections. Thirty four cargo loading and unloading platforms distribute amongst the Netaji Subhas Dock, Kidderpore Dock, and Budge Budge Jetties components of the port infrastructure.

The lineage of the Kolkata Port predates the formation of docks and functioned as a trade point for multiple centuries. Modern developmental initiatives commenced in the 1870s under British administration to enhance the capabilities of this port. Currently, the Kolkata Port retains recognition as the symbolic entry point for trade in Eastern India. Its rich history and continued dominance as a regional shipping hub demonstrate the vital role of this port to both heritage and contemporary commerce through the region.

2. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port – Haldia Port

The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port – Haldia Port lies in the state of West Bengal, positioned 43 kilometers southwest of the Kolkata Port site, at the confluence point of two waterways – the Hooghly and Haldi Rivers. There is existing infrastructure to dock 15 ships, with water depth ranging between 8.5 to 11 meters alongside these loading/unloading platforms.

In the 2022-23 fiscal year, the Haldia Dock Complex handled 48.608 million tonnes with a growth rate of 13.4% over 2021-22. This quantity highlights the significant cargo handling contributions of Haldia Port to regional and overseas trade. These insights indicate the capabilities of an individual port site and showcase the collective shipping capacity across ports along the eastern seaboard of India.

3. Paradip Port

Paradip Port has the distinction of being the first major port constructed on the eastern seaboard after India achieved independence. This status demonstrates the necessity of developing port infrastructure to promote trade and economic growth in the post-colonial era.

The state of Odisha houses the Paradip Port on the Bay of Bengal coastline. The existing facilities accommodate 17 ships at berths, 3 vessels at single point moorings, and 1 rollout/roll-on carrier. This setup services different types of sea trade vessels across bulk, breakbulk and containerized shipping.

In the 2022-23 fiscal year, the Paradip Port registered 135.329 million metric tons of aggregated cargo movement with a growth rate of 16.5% over 2021-22. These volume handling figures showcase the port’s capability to contribute to India’s global trade participation.

4. Visakhapatnam Port

The state of Andhra Pradesh is home to the Visakhapatnam Port, situated along the Bay of Bengal coastline. It commenced operations in 1933 with an initial 3 ship berths, and presently contains infrastructure to anchor 24 ships. This growth demonstrates progressive infrastructure development to meet trade demands.

The geographic position of the Visakhapatnam Port benefits from protection against cyclones owing to the presence of a hill protrusion into the sea. Statistics record cargo movement of 73.75 million metric tons through the port in 2022-23 with a growth rate of 6.8% over 2021-22. The findings highlight its strategic location enabling consistent maritime trade operations and role as a key facilitator of India’s overseas commerce.

5. Kamarajar Port

The state of Tamil Nadu is home to the Kamarajar Port, also known as Ennore Port, found close to the urban center of Chennai along the Coromandel Coastline. Reports categorize it as an artificial harbor that commenced operations in 2001, purpose-built using scientific maritime engineering techniques. Existing capacity allows docking 8 large ships, with potential to expand berthing ability to handle 20 vessels simultaneously.

The Kamarajar Port presently facilitates trade in commodities such as coal, automobiles, chemicals and minerals. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, aggregated cargo handled reached 43.507 million metric tons with a growth rate of 12.3% over 2021-22. These insights into cargo type and quantity demonstrate the port’s significance as a trade gateway for key domestic manufacturing industries and foreign trade.

6. Chennai Port

The harbor situated in Chennai along the coastline of Tamil Nadu was previously officially addressed as Madras Port during the pre-colonial and initial post-independence periods. Administrative records show that the name amended to Chennai Port in line with the renaming of the city in 1996.

Data indicate the Chennai Port currently has 27 active ship berths, segmented between 3 docking areas namely Dr. Ambedkar, Jawahar and Bharathi. Data from the 2022-23 fiscal year registers the cumulative freight handled at this harbor amounted to 48.949 million metric tons with a growth rate of 0.8% over 2021-22. The insights showcase both the infrastructure capability and shipping trade volumes occurring at India’s second largest port.

7. V.O. Chidambaram Port

The V.O. Chidambaram Port infrastructure sits in the city of Thoothukudi, formerly addressed as Tuticorin, along the Tamil Nadu coastline. It the second largest harbor in the state, inferior only to the Chennai Port in terms of traffic and handling capability.

Experts denote the V.O. Chidambaram Port as an artificial port, scientifically constructed using maritime engineering techniques. Available facilities can dock 16 ships simultaneously. Quantitatively, 2022-23 fiscal year statistics indicate 38.041 million metric tons of various cargo handled through this port with a growth rate of 11.5% over 2021-22.

8. Cochin Port

Cochin Port is present along the Kerala coastline on western India’s seaboard. Chronological records highlight that construction of this harbor originated under British administration spanning the time period between 1920 and 1941. Official acknowledgment as a major port occurred in the year 1936.

Shipping Ministry of India’s data shows total freight handled at this facility during financial year 2022-23 measured 35.256 million metric tons with a growth rate of 2.0% over 2021-22. The geographic advantage of Cochin Port lies in its positioning allowing connectivity both to inland production hubs and overseas destinations through maritime channels.

9. New Mangalore Port

New Mangalore Port is the only major port in the state of Karnataka, India. It became the 9th major port of India in 1974.

The New Mangalore Port contains the deepest inland docking harbors on India’s western coastline with a 15 meter depth clearance. Technically this offers a size advantage in servicing larger sea trade vessels. Shipping ministry metrics from fiscal year 2022-23 record cargo movement of 41.417 million metric tons via the port with a growth rate of 5.3% over 2021-22.

10. Mormugao Port

Mormugao Port is located in Goa state, alongside the urban settlement of Vasco da Gama. Experts technically categorize this as a natural port, evolved without requirement of extensive scientific maritime engineering interventions. It became a major port in 1964.

The main goods shipped out from Mormugao Port is iron ore taken from Inland mines. The port also has ships carrying general cargo. In the financial year from 2022 to 2023, the port handled about 17.334 million metric tons of cargo. That was 6.1% less than the year before.

11. Mumbai Port

Looking at size and how much cargo it handles, Mumbai Port is the biggest port in India. Data show it is located along the coast by Mumbai city in Maharashtra state. It benefits from positioning on a naturally created aquatic harbor.

Mumbai Port has over 60 docking berths around its land area. It has different sections to handle dry bulk, liquid bulk, and container goods all at the same time. In 2022-2023, the port handled about 63.606 million metric tons of total cargo. That was a 6.2% increase over the previous year.

12. Jawaharlal Nehru Port

Near Mumbai Port along the Maharashtra coast is Jawaharlal Nehru Port. It is near the city Navi Mumbai. Looking at how many shipping containers it can handle, data show it is India’s busiest port for container shipping.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port area encompasses 5 dedicated container loading docks, alongside individual berths purposed for liquid bulk goods and shallow water anchored vessels. Fiscal 2022-23 cargo movements measured at 83.861 million metric tons through the port, registering a growth of 10.3% over 2021-22. It is India’s prime container shipment gateway port.

13. Deendayal Port

The Deendayal Port situated along Gujarat’s coastline near the city of Kandla was previously officially addressed as Kandla Port since its inauguration in the 1950s. It was rebranded as Deendayal Port in 2017.

Fiscal 2022-23 data shows the cumulative freight processed through the port was 137.561 million metric tons, registering a growth of 8.2% over 2021-22.

Cargo traffic of 13 Major Ports in India

Among the major ports in India, Deendayal Port handled the most overseas cargo in 2022-2023 – 123.88 million tons. This accounted for 20.6% of total overseas cargo at major ports. Other top ports for overseas cargo were JNPT (13.1% share), Paradip Port (12.8%), Vishakhapatnam Port (9.1%), SMP Haldia Dock (7.3%), Chennai Port (7.2%), Mumbai Port (6.8%), New Mangalore Port (5.4%), Kamarajar Port (4.3%), V.O. Chidambaranar Port (4.2%), Cochin Port (3.9%), Kolkata Dock (2.8%) and Mormugao Port (2.6%).

For coastal cargo, Paradip Port handled the highest volume – 58.42 million tons – accounting for 31.9% of the major ports’ coastal cargo. Other top ports for coastal cargo were Mumbai Port (12.3% share), Vishakhapatnam Port (10.4%), Kamarajar Port (9.7%), Deendayal Port (7.5%), V.O.Chidambaranar Port (6.9%), Cochin Port (6.6%), New Mangalore Port (5.0%), Chennai Port (3.2%), Haldia Dock and JNPT (2.7% each), Mormugao Port (0.9%) and Kolkata Dock (0.2%).