6 MEGA PORTS BY 2047

In Feb 2024, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways announced for the development of 6 port clusters as Mega Ports by the year 2047.

These 6 Port Clusters are:

1. Cochin –Vizhinjam Port cluster 
2. Galathea South Bay Port
3. Chennai – Kamarajar– Cuddalore Port cluster
4. Paradip and Other Non-Major Ports Cluster
5. Deendayal and Tuna Tekra
6. Jawaharlal Nehru – Vadhavan

About Ports in India

1. Geographical Significance: India has a long coastline of approximately 7,517 kilometers, which provides ample opportunities for the development of ports.
2. Types of Ports: Ports in India can be categorized into ‘major ports’ and ‘minor ports’. Major ports are those that are directly owned and managed under the control of the Central Government's Ministry of Shipping. Minor ports, on the other hand, are owned and operated by state governments or private entities.
3. Major Ports: At present, India has 12 major ports, which are located in various coastal states. These are:

• Mumbai Port Trust (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
• Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (Nhava Sheva, Maharashtra)
• Chennai Port Trust (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
• Visakhapatnam Port Trust (Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh)
• Kolkata Port Trust (Kolkata, West Bengal)
• Paradip Port Trust (Paradip, Odisha)
• Cochin Port Trust (Kochi, Kerala)
• New Mangalore Port Trust (Mangalore, Karnataka)
• Kandla Port Trust (Kandla, Gujarat)
• Ennore Port (Kamarajar Port Limited) (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
• Mormugao Port Trust (Mormugao, Goa)
• Tuticorin Port Trust (Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu)

4. Minor Ports: At present, India has almost 205 minor ports located in various states.
5. Private Sector Participation: In recent years, there has been a significant emphasis on attracting private sector investment in port development and operations. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been encouraged to leverage private sector expertise and resources for the expansion and modernization of port facilities.

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