The Paradip Port Authority, Odisha, has displaced the Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla, as the top cargo-handling major port of India in 2023-24. In 2023-24, the Paradip Port handled 145.38 Million Metric Tons (MMT) of cargo. Paradip Port handled 10.02 million metric tons more cargo than last year, registering a growth of 7.4%. The Paradip port has the capacity to handle 289 million metric tonnes.
The Paradip Port emerged as the country's hub for coastal shipping. It handled 59.19 million metric tonnes of coastal shipping traffic. Similarly, the port handled 43.97 million metric tonnes of thermal coal coastal shipping,
The Paradip Port achieved the highest productivity among all major ports in India. Its berth productivity has improved from 31050 MT to 33014 MT.
Paradip Port is the cheapest in terms of tariff among all the ports in the country. As part of its business development plan, the Paradip Port has frozen its tariff for cargo handling for three years starting in 2022.
Paradip Port was initially set up by the government of Odisha in 1962. However, in 1965, the government of India took over the ownership and management of the port from the Odisha government.
Paradip Port was declared a major port by the government of India on 18 April 1966, becoming the 8th major port of India.
The Port of Paradip is an autonomous body under the Major Port Trusts Act 1963, functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. It is administered by a Board of Trustees set up by the Government of India.
There are two types of ports in India: major and non-major ports. The major ports are under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Over 200 non-major ports are under the control of the State or Union Territory government.
Major Port Authorities /Major Ports in India
There were 13 Port Authorities in India which managed the 13 major ports.Later, Chennai Port Authority acquired the Kamarajar Port Authority which managed the Kamarajar (earlier known as Ennore Port) in 2020,
Thus at present there are 12 Port Authorities which manage 13 major ports in India.
The Port Authority is an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Port,Shipping and Waterways which is responsible for the administration, control and management of such ports. At present they are governed by the provisions of the Major Port Authorities Act 2021.
There were initially 13 major ports in India. The Chennai Port acquired the Kamarajar Port(earlier known as Ennore Port) in 2020, and now there are only 12 major ports in India.
Serial Number |
Port Name |
Located in State /Union Territory |
Feature |
Coast of India |
1 |
Chennai |
Tamil Nadu |
It is an artificial port and is the third oldest among the Major Ports of India. |
Eastern Coast |
2 |
V.O.Chidambaram Port |
Tamil Nadu |
It was earlier called Tuticorin Port. It is an artificial port. It is the southernmost port of India. |
Eastern Coast |
3 |
Kamarajar Port(Ennore Port) |
Tamil Nadu |
It is the 12th Major port of India. It is an artificial Port. |
Eastern Coast |
4 |
Visakhapatnam Port |
Andhra Pradesh |
It is the only landlocked major port in India |
Eastern Coast |
5 |
Paradip Port |
Odisha |
It is a natural port.It is located at the confluence of the Mahanadi River and the Bay of Bengal |
Eastern Coast |
6 |
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata |
West Bengal |
Only Riverine major Port. It is situated on the Hooghly River. It is a Tidal Port |
Eastern Coast |
7 |
Cochin Port |
Kerala |
It is a natural port. It is situated on Willingdon Island in the Arabian Sea. |
Western Coast |
8 |
New Mangalore Port |
Karnataka |
It is a natural port. |
Western Coast |
9 |
Mormugao Port |
Goa |
It is a natural port. It was developed by the Portuguese to export Iron ores from Gao. |
Western Coast |
10 |
Deen Dayal Port Authority |
Gujarat |
It was earlier called Kandla Port.It lies in the Kutch district of Gujarat. It is a Tidal port. |
Western Coast |
11 |
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) or Nhava Sheva port |
Maharashtra |
It is the most modern and mechanised port in India. It is the largest artificial port in India. |
Western Coast |
12 |
Mumbai Port |
Maharashtra |
It is the largest natural port in India. |
Western Coast |
13 |
Port Blair Port |
Andaman and Nicobar island. Located in South Andaman. |
It is the newest major port of India. It was declared a major port in 2010. |
Western Coast |