All ports in India are located in the following 9 impartial states of India namely Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu. India’s elongated coastline forms one of the major part of land that juts out into a water body. There are 13 major ports in the country that conduct a lot of volume of container and cargo traffic.
On the west shore, there are the ports of Mumbai, Mormugao, Mangalore, Kandla, JNPT, and Cochin. The ones on the east shore are the ports at Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Tuticorin, Kolkata, Paradip, and Ennore. Ennore is a registered public company and also government owning a 68% stake. In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, there is Port which name is Blair. Mumbai port is the largest natural port in India.
Marine transport in India is administered and controlled by the state and the central governments. The shipping ministry handle the major ports, the intermediate and the minor ports are administered by the State government in according to the port is located. India’s 95% of trading is done by maritime transport. The major ports in India are located in:
- Maharashtra -53
- Gujarat -40
- Tamil Nadu – 15
- Karnataka – 10
Major Ports in India
| Zone | State | Port | Features |
| Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu | Chennai | Artificial PortSecond busiest port |
| Western Coast | Kerala | Kochi | Sited in the Vembanad lake Exports of spices and salts |
| Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu | Ennore | India’s First corporatized port |
| Eastern Coast | West Bengal | Kolkata | India’s only major Riverine portSituated on Hugli river Known as Diamond Harbour |
| Western Coast | Gujarat | Kandla | Known as Tidal Port Acknowledged as Trade Free Zone Largest port by volume of cargo handled. |
| Western Coast | Karnataka | Mangalore | Deals with the iron ore exports |
| Western Coast | Goa | Mormugao | Situated on the estuary of the river Zuari |
| Western Coast | Maharashtra | Mumbai Port Trust | Largest Natural Port and harbour In IndiaThe busiest port in India |
| Western Coast | Maharashtra | Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) also known as Nhava Sheva, Navi Mumbai | Largest Artificial PortIt is the Largest Container Port in India. |
| Eastern Coast | Odisha | Paradip | Natural Harbor deals with the export of iron and aluminium |
| Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu | Tuticorin | A major port in south India deals with the fertilizers and petrochemical products |
| Eastern Coast | Andhra Pradesh | Visakhapatnam | Deepest port of India deals with the export of iron ore to Japan. Amenities for building and fixing of ships are available |
| Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair | The port connected to the mainland of India through ship and flight. This port is situated in between two international shipping lines namely Saudi Arabia & US Singapore. |