7.4.4. Major Sea ports

With a long coastline of 7,516.6 km, India is dotted with 12 major and 200 notified non-major (minor/intermediate) ports. These major ports handle 95 percent of India’s foreign trade.

India has a significant coastline measuring over 7,500 kilometers long. This extensive coastline is essential because it allows India to have both major and minor ports that facilitate maritime trade. Specifically, there are 12 major ports that play a crucial role, handling about 95 percent of the country's foreign trade. This highlights the importance of these ports in connecting India with global markets.

Think of India's coastline as a long and busy highway. Just as a highway connects different cities and facilitates the movement of goods and people, the ports along India's coastline connect the country to the rest of the world, making it easier and more efficient to trade internationally.

Kandla in Kuchchh was the first port developed soon after Independence to ease the volume of trade on the Mumbai port, in the wake of loss of Karachi port to Pakistan after the Partition. Kandla, also known as the Deendayal Port, is a tidal port. It caters to the convenient handling of exports and imports of highly productive granary and industrial belt stretching across UT of Jammu and Kashmir, and the states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

Kandla Port, located in Kuchchh, holds historical significance as it was the first major port developed in India after gaining independence from British rule. The establishment of Kandla was largely motivated by the need to alleviate congestion at Mumbai Port following the Partition of India, which resulted in the loss of Karachi Port. As a tidal port, Kandla experiences changes in water levels due to tides, which aids in the efficient movement of cargo. The port primarily handles exports and imports for a highly productive agricultural and industrial region extending across several northern and western Indian states.

Consider Kandla Port as a new school built to accommodate students when an existing school becomes too crowded. Just as the new school helps balance the student population by providing a space for everyone, Kandla Port was created to manage the trade traffic that Mumbai could no longer handle efficiently.

Mumbai is the biggest port with a spacious natural and well-sheltered harbor. The Jawaharlal Nehru port was planned with a view to decongest the Mumbai port and serve as a hub port for this region.

Mumbai Port is recognized as the largest port in India, known for its natural harbor that provides a safe and spacious area for ships to dock and unload goods. To further improve efficiency, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port was developed aiming to relieve some of the pressure from Mumbai Port by serving as a secondary hub for cargo operations in the region, which helps in streamlining trade activities.

Imagine a large, busy grocery store that is often crowded and disorganized. To improve shopping experiences, a new, smaller grocery store is opened nearby, allowing customers to shop more conveniently. Similarly, Jawaharlal Nehru Port was created to ease the congestion at Mumbai Port, making trade smoother and faster.

Marmagao port (Goa) is the premier iron ore exporting port of the country. This port accounts for about fifty percent of India’s iron ore export. New Mangalore port, located in Karnataka, caters to the export of iron ore concentrates from Kudremukh mines. Kochchi is the extreme south-western port, located at the entrance of a lagoon with a natural harbor.

Marmagao Port, located in Goa, is the leading Indian port for exporting iron ore, responsible for about half of India's total iron ore exports. Additionally, New Mangalore Port is crucial for exporting iron ore concentrates sourced from the Kudremukh mines in Karnataka. Kochchi Port, positioned in the far southwest, benefits from a natural lagoon harbor, making it advantageous for docking ships and managing cargo.

You can think of Marmagao Port like a specialized factory that only produces one product—iron ore. It’s so good at it that it supplies half of what the country needs. Meanwhile, New Mangalore Port is like a warehouse that processes materials from different locations before sending them out, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Moving along the east coast, you would see the extreme south-eastern port of Tuticorin, in Tamil Nadu. This port has a natural harbor and rich hinterland. Thus, it has a flourishing trade handling a large variety of cargoes to even our neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, etc., and the coastal regions of India. Chennai is one of the oldest artificial ports of the country. It is ranked next to Mumbai in terms of the volume of trade and cargo.

Tuticorin Port, located in Tamil Nadu on the southeastern coast, features a natural harbor and is supported by a rich hinterland, enabling it to thrive in trade. It handles diverse cargo and even engages in commerce with neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Chennai Port, one of the nation's oldest artificial ports, follows Mumbai closely in terms of trade volume, establishing itself as a significant player in Indian maritime activities.

Imagine Tuticorin Port as a popular marketplace that not only serves local customers but also attracts visitors from neighboring towns (like Sri Lanka and Maldives). Chennai, being an older market, prides itself on having a long history of trade, akin to a well-established shop that draws many customers, making it very busy.

Vishakhapatnam is the deepest landlocked and well-protected port. This port was originally conceived as an outlet for iron ore exports. Paradwip port located in Odisha specializes in the export of iron ore. Kolkata is an inland riverine port. This port serves a very large and rich hinterland of Ganga-Brahmaputra basin. Being a tidal port, it requires constant dredging of Hoogli. Haldia port was developed as a subsidiary port, in order to relieve growing pressure on the Kolkata port.

Vishakhapatnam Port stands out as the deepest and well-protected port in India, initially planned to facilitate iron ore exports. Paradwip Port, located in Odisha, also specializes in iron ore export but serves a different region. Kolkata Port, situated on a river, caters to a vast area fed by the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin. It is classified as a tidal port, which necessitates regular dredging to keep navigation channels clear. Haldia Port was created as a complementary port to alleviate congestion at Kolkata Port.

Picture Vishakhapatnam Port as a deep, secure marina where large vessels can dock comfortably. Paradwip is like a shop dedicated to selling one specific item—iron ore—much like a clothing store that specializes in shirts. Kolkata is akin to a river dock where boats and ferries operate, and just like how some docks need upkeep to ensure they remain accessible, Kolkata requires dredging to maintain its operation.

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