Ports on the Eastern Coast Of India

The eastern coast of India is bordered by the Bay of Bengal. It’s a long stretch of coast, stretching between 80 and 100 kilometers. It runs from the Ganga to the Kanyakumari Delta, cutting through three Indian states: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Kn, and Orissa. 

The Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and Kaveri waterways all have deltas on the Eastern coast. The East Coast deltas are exceptionally fertile and ideal for agricultural reasons. It is characterized by tidal ponds, ocean seashores, and seaward bars, among other things. The ‘Storehouse of South India’ is the name given to the Krishna Delta waterway.

Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu), Ennore (Tamil Nadu), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Haldia, and Kolkata (West Bengal), Paradip (Odisha), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), and Port Blair are the major ports on the east coast (Andaman and Nicobar Island).

India is the world’s largest promontory, with a shoreline of around 7517 kilometers. The major ports are regulated by the central government under the Major Port Trust Act of 1963, whereas medium and minor ports (a collection of concurrent records) are supervised and administered by individual states. 

Chennai Port

• The Chennai Port, also known as Madras Port, is India’s second-largest port.
• This port’s operations began in 1881, and it is India’s third-oldest port.
• It is the main port of Tamil Nadu and is located on the Bay of Bengal’s Coromandel Coast.
• Its main cargo taking care of port increased its taking care of record from 0.5 million to 100 million in 2015-16.
• It intends to increase its freight handling capacity to almost 140 million tonnes. It is significant in some ways.

Tuticorin Port

• Tuticorin Port is one of India’s most important ports, having recently been established in Tamil Nadu.
• It was built eight kilometers south of the former Tuticorin Port.
• It is associated with railroads and streets, as it should be.
• This port mostly deals with Sri Lanka.
• In the Bay of Bengal, it is known as the Pearl City and is ideal for pearl fishing.
• Salt, sugar, food grains, consumable oils, coal, and oil-based commodities are the most common commodities traded.

Visakhapatnam Port

• The Visakhapatnam port is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, in a beautiful creek.
• On December 19, 1933, Ruler Willingdon inaugurated the Visakhapatnam port.
• This port consistently handles 1.2 lakh tonnes of freight.
• External harbor, inner harbor, and fishing harbor are the three main harbors in the city.
• This Port has coal, iron minerals, beds, oil, and alumina trade agreements.

Paradip Port

• The Paradip Port is located in the Indian state of Orissa and is a major deep-water port.
• It is a deep seaport with the capacity to handle heavy and bulky cargo.
• For product shipping, this Port has its own train.
• This port is primarily responsible for the interchange of coal and iron ore.

Kolkata Port

• It is located on the Hugli River, 128 kilometers from the Bay of Bengal.
• This port mostly deals in trade with Australia and Southeast Asian countries.
• The ‘Entryway of Eastern India’ is how Kolkata Port is known.
• It is the primary port, with two ports, one in Kolkata and the other in Haldia.
• It is one of India’s most well-known ports, having been built by the East India Company.
• It is the principal location for jute trading.
• Apart from jute, it also handles tea, copper, steel, calfskin, and other commodities. This port mostly imports machinery, raw petroleum, synthetic manures, and other such items.

Ennore Port

• It is located on the Coromandel Coast, 24 kilometers from Chennai Port.
• For ease of transportation, it offers both train and road connections.
• It is a prominent coal exporter.
• It constantly handles around 16 million tonnes of coal.
• It is one of India’s privately claimed ports.

Importance of Ports 

• Ports serve as important transportation hubs that aid in the development of goods. All modes of transportation, including maritime, air, rail, and truck, are used to move cargo (including unrefined components, parts, and completed client items) to firms in neighboring networks and overall business sectors.
• In beachside areas, ports establish a big financial flow. The more items and travelers that pass through each year, the more structure, arrangements, and related services are necessary. These will provide varying degrees of economic and national benefits.
• Mumbai is the largest port in the world. The Jawaharlal Nehru port was entrusted with the task of decongesting the Mumbai port. Goa’s Mormugao Port is a major iron mineral trading port in the country. The Kudremukh mines produce iron metal, which is shipped to the New Mangalore Port.

The Eastern coastal plains

Between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal lies the Eastern Coastal Plains, a large expanse of India’s landmass. It runs from Tamil Nadu in the south to West Bengal in the north, passing via Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, it is more widespread and evened out than the Western Coastal Plains. 

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as Lakshadweep, make up about 7516.6 kilometers of India’s coastline. As a result, the areas that are covered by the Indian shorelines have a wonderful atmosphere with moderate temperatures, which is ideal for human development. The following is a list of some of the key meanings of India’s shoreline fields:

The majority of India’s shoreline fields are covered in fertile soils that are ideal for development. Rice is the most important crop grown in these areas.

Ports of diverse sizes and forms dot the Indian coastlines, assisting in the completion of the exchange. These waterfront fields’ sedimentary rocks are reported to hold vast reserves of mineral oil, which might be used as a source of revenue for the maritime economy.

Fishing has become a major source of income for people who live near the water.

India’s beachside fields are rich in waterfront and marine settings, including a diverse range of mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries, and tidal ponds, all of which contribute to the country’s enormous tourism potential.

Conclusion 

While going through this article, you will get a lot of information about the ports on the eastern coast of India. Also, you will get to know about the importance of these ports and how they operate.