Complete List of Major Sea Ports of India | Khan Global Studies Blogs (2024)

India has been ahead in trade since ancient times and maintains its hold on trade even with the neighboring states of India. Waterways and state roads particularly facilitated this trade. Earlier this trade was handled by boats but now ships handle it. Trade by ship is cheaper than by air. Many facilities are provided along the rivers or sea banks to ease the movement of ships for commercial purposes.

India’s coastline is more than 7,517 km long, with more than 200 ports, including 13 major ports. Which are located equally on the east and west coasts. The ports of Kolkata, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Haldia, Chennai, Ennore and Tuticorin are located on the east coast of India, while the ports of Cochin, Mangalore, Mormugao, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru and Kandla on Nhava Sheva are located on the west coast.

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Port Administration in India

There are two types of ports in India, Major and Minor ports. Major ports are owned and operated by the Central Government, while minor ports are owned and operated by the State Governments. India has 205 designated minor and intermediate ports in addition to 13 major ports (12 Government-Owned and One Private) that handle a significant amount of trade.

Major Ports

Major ports are included in the Union List of the Indian Constitution and are administered under the Indian Ports Act 1908 and the Major Ports Trust Act 1963. The Government of India appoints a Board of Trustees to oversee each major port. Port development, management and operations are among their functions.

Minor Port

Small ports, such as those in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, are governed by the Ports Department or, if one exists, by the State Maritime Board. State Maritime Boards function similarly to port trusts and have tariff-setting authority. They also work to attract private investment through concession contracts, incentives, special rights, and land acquisitions.

List of Major and Largest Seaports in India

The table below lists major ports of India, all equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and under strict monitoring of authorities and management for any irregularities and issues.

Port Name	State	River/Sea	Coast Name
Jawaharlal Nehru Port	Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra	Arabian Sea	Western Coast
Chennai Port	Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Bay of Bengal	Eastern Coast
Mundra Port	Kutch, Gujarat	Gulf of Kutch	Western Coast
Vishakhapatnam Port	Vishakhapatnam, Andra Pradesh	Bay of Bengal	Eastern Coast
Cochin Port	Kochi, Kerala	Arabian Sea	Western Coast
Kandla Port	Kandla, Gujarat	Gulf of Kutch	Western Coast
Mumbai Port Trust	Mumbai, Maharashtra	Arabian Sea	Western Coast
Paradeep Port	Jagatsinghpur District, Odisha	Bay of Bengal	Eastern Coast
Mormugao Port	Mormugao, Goa	Arabian Sea	Western Coast
Ennore Port	Ennore, Tamil Nadu	Bay of Bengal	Eastern Coast
Haldia Port	Kolkata, West Bengal	Hooghly River	Eastern Coast
Tuticorin Port	Tamil Nadu	Bay of Bengal	Eastern Coast
New Mangalore Port	Karnataka	Arabian Sea	Western Coast
Port Blair Port	Andaman Nicobar	Bay of Bengal	Eastern Coast
Vadhavan Port	Vadhvan, Maharashtra	Arabian Sea	Western Coast

Conclusion

India has a huge advantage when it comes to trade, governments have understood this from time to time and have always worked towards improving the facilities when it comes to ports. India is home to a variety of exports, and these ports help deliver goods manufactured in India around the world.

FAQs

Question: How many ports are there in India?
Answer: India mainly has 13 major ports and 200 minor ports.

Question: Which is the largest port of India?
Answer: Mumbai Port is the largest port of India.

Question: Which is the oldest port of India?
Answer: Lothal is the oldest port of India.

Question: Which is the smallest port of India?
Answer: Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is the smallest port of India.