Several ports in India are of great importance to the country. These seaports play a vital role in the economy and help to keep the country connected with the rest of the world. The biggest port in India is located in Mumbai, and it is also one of the largest ports in all of Asia. There are several other important ports in India, including Chennai, Kolkata, and Paradip. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at these important seaports and discuss what makes them so important to India.
What is the meaning of ports?
Ports are locations on the coast where ships can dock and unload their cargo. India, being a vast country with a long coastline, has several important ports. Some of the biggest and busiest ports in India are:
– The Port of Mumbai is the largest and busiest port in India, handling around 60% of the country’s total maritime trade.
– The Port of Chennai is the second largest port in India and handles about 40% of the country’s containerized cargo.
– The Port of Kolkata is the third-largest port in India and handles around 20% of the country’s total maritime trade.
– The Port of Cochin is the fourth-largest port in India and handles around.
There are many other ports in India. Let’s discuss them in detail.
How did the ports come into existence?
The first port in India was established at Surat in 1498. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in India and they set up their trading centres at Goa, Daman, Diu, and Bombay. The British established their first port at Madras in 1640 and followed it up with the establishment of Bombay and Calcutta. The Dutch set up their port at Pulicat in 1609 but soon withdrew from India. The French set up their trading centres at Pondicherry and Chandranagar.
The development of the ports was a gradual process. The Indian ports could not develop to their potential due to the lack of capital and technology. The development of the ports was also hampered by the hostile attitude of the European powers who were not keen on seeing the Indian ports developing to their full potential. The development of the Indian ports took a big leap forward with the change of time.
Major seaports in India
There are some of the major ports in India that includes: Nhava Sheva, Maharashtra; Visakhapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh; Kandla Port, Gujrat; Marmagao Port, Goa; Chennai Port, Tamil Nadu; Port Blair Por, Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Cochin Port, Kerela; New Mangalore Port, Karnataka; Pradip, Orissa, Vizag Port, Vishakhapatnam; Ennore Port, Chennai; and Tuticorin Port, Tamil Nadu.
Nhava Sheva, Maharashtra: It is the biggest port in India. Nhava Sheva can handle around 55 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Visakhapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh: This Port is one of the busiest and largest ports in India. It handles around 60 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Kandla Port, Gujrat: Kandla Port is the largest port in India as per the volume of cargo handled. It handles around 65 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Marmagao Port, Goa: Marmagao Port is the second largest port in India. It handles around 40 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Chennai Port, Tamil Nadu: Chennai Port is the second largest artificial port in India. It handles around 50 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Port Blair Port, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Port Blair Port is the only seaport in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It handles around 20 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Cochin Port, Kerala: Cochin Port is the largest and busiest seaport in Kerala. It handles around 30 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
New Mangalore Port, Karnataka: New Mangalore Port is the only major port in Karnataka. It handles around 35 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Pradip, Orissa: Pradip Port is the deepest seaport in India. It handles around 25 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Vizag Port, Vishakhapatnam: Vizag Port is the largest port in Andhra Pradesh. It handles around 45 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Ennore Port, Chennai: Ennore Port is the first corporate port in India. It handles around 20 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
Tuticorin Port, Tamil Nadu: Tuticorin Port is the largest port in Tamil Nadu. It handles around 30 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
These are some of the major ports in India that play a vital role in the economy of the country. India is a land of vast coastline and these ports are responsible for the smooth flow of trade and commerce in the country.
Why are the seaports in India important?
The seaports in India are important because they provide an essential link between the country and the outside world. They also play a vital role in the country’s economy by providing a means for the import and export of goods.
There are many seaports, but the three biggest and largest ports in India are Mumbai Port, Chennai Port, and the Kolkata Port respectively.
Conclusion
India is a country with many important ports. Some of these ports are used for international trade, while others are used for domestic trade. The following list provides some information on the most important ports in India along with the biggest port in India. If you are interested in learning more about any of these ports, please let us know and we would be happy to provide additional information. Thank you for reading!