The Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways recently announced that the cargo-handling capacity at Indian ports has increased by 87% over the last nine years.

• Tamil Nadu’s Kamarajar Port has shown a remarkable surge, registering a 154% increase in cargo handling capacity.

About Kamarajar Port

• Kamarajar Port was formerly known as Ennore Port.
• It is located approximately 24 kilometers north of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India.
• It is the 12th major port of India and the first port in India established as a public company.
  • The port was declared as a major port under the Indian Ports Act, 1908, in March 1999.
• Kamarajar Port is the only corporatized major port in India and is registered as a company.
• It is owned by the Chennai Port Trust, which also operates the Port of Chennai.
• The port operates under the landlord port model, where the port authority acts as a regulatory body and landlord, while private companies handle port operations, especially cargo handling.

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India’s Port Sector

• India ranks as the 16th largest maritime country in the world.
• The Indian maritime sector contributes to 95% of India’s trade by volume and 70% by value.
• The Indian port sector is divided into two segments: major ports and non-major ports.
• India currently has 12 major ports, with Vadhvan Port (13th) and Galathea Port (14th) being the latest additions.
• There are over 200 non-major ports across India.
• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways regulates major ports in India.

Comparison of Major and Minor Ports

About Upcoming Major Ports

Vadhvan Port

• It is located near Dahanu town in Palghar district, Maharashtra.
• Vadhvan Port is the 13th major port in the country.
• It is expected to become the largest container port in India and one of the largest deep-water ports in the country.
• The project will be constructed by Vadhavan Port Project Limited (VPPL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
  • VPPL is formed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), with a shareholding of 74% and 26%, respectively.

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Galathea Port

• The Central Government notified Galathea Bay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a major port in 2024.
• It is located on Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India.
• Galathea Port is being developed as an International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP).
  • A transshipment port acts as a hub where cargo is transferred from one vessel to another for further transportation to its final destination.
• Galathea Port will be the 14th major port in India.

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