Major ports in India – coastline is about 7516.6 kilometres and it is one of the biggest peninsulas in the world. It is serviced by 12 major ports, 200 notified minor and intermediate ports. Maharashtra (48) has the maximum number of non-major ports followed by Gujarat (42) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (23).
- The Major Ports are administered by the central government’s shipping ministry.
- The Minor and Intermediate ports are administered by the relevant departments or ministries in the nine coastal states.
The Coastal States in India are Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Major ports in India
Name of the Sea Port | Coast | State |
Kandla | Western Coast | Gujarat |
Mumbai | Western Coast | Maharashtra |
Jawaharlal Nehru | Western Coast | Maharashtra |
Marmugoa | Western Coast | Goa |
Mangalore | Western Coast | Karnataka |
Cochin | Western Coast | Kerala |
Haldia | Eastern Coast | West Bengal |
Paradip | Eastern Coast | Odisha |
Vishakapatnam | Eastern Coast | Andhra Pradesh |
Chennai | Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu |
Ennore | Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu |
Tuticorin | Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu |
Interesting Facts about Major Ports of India
- Kandla Port is located on the Gulf of Kutch. It is the largest port of India by volume of cargo handled.
- Mormugao Port is the leading iron ore exporting port of India with an annual throughput of around 27.33 million tonnes of iron ore traffic.
- Panambur is the site of seaport called New Mangalore Port.
- Paradip Port is an artificial and deep-water port.
- Ennore Port officially renamed Kamarajar Port Limited, is the only corporatized major port and is registered as a company.
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port is the largest container port in India. It was formerly known as Nhava Sheva port.
- New Mangalore Port is a deep-water all-weather port and the only major port of Karnataka.
- Tuticorin Port is an artificial deep-sea harbour of India.
- Madras Port is the one of the oldest port in India and the second largest port in the country.
- Mumbai Port handles one-fifth of India’s foreign trade with predominance in dry cargo and mineral oil from the Gulf countries.
- Tuticorin Port is officially known as VO Chidambaranar Port.
Test Your Knowledge
Who is VO Chidambaranar?
- Valliappan Olaganathan Chidambaram Pillai (1872–1936), popularly known by his initials, V.O.C. was a Tamil political leader. He was a disciple of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
- He launched the first indigenous Indian shipping service between Tuticorin and Colombo with the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company, competing against British ships.
- In response to the British India Steam Navigation Company’s trade monopoly, Chidambaram started an Indian-owned shipping company. He registered the Swadeshi Shipping Company in October 1906.
- He was charged with sedition and a sentence of two life imprisonments (in effect 40 years) was imposed. He was confined in the Central Prison, Coimbatore (from 9 July 1908 to 1 December 1910).
- The Indian Posts & Telegraphs department of India issued a special postage stamp on 5 September 1972, on the occasion of his birth centenary.