Context:
VOC Port Authority is exploring the possibility of setting up a shipbuilding facility in Thoothukudi.
VOC Port:
- Formerly known as Tuticorin Port.
- Location – South-eastern coast of India, along the Gulf of Mannar.
- Classified as a major port in India.
- Type – Artificial port.
- Operational Capacity – Deep-water, all-weather port that functions round the clock
Major Ports in India:
- Under the administrative control of Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
- Currently, there are 12 functional Major ports.
- Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra, designated to be India’s 13th Major Port, is under construction
| Port | Location | Features |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT); Also known as Nhava Sheva port | Maharashtra | Largest container port in India; artificial port |
| Mumbai Port | Maharashtra | Natural port; handles petroleum, chemicals, and textiles. |
| Kandla Port (Deendayal Port) | Gujarat | Tidal port; handles crude oil, petroleum products. |
| Mormugao Port | Goa | Natural port; handles export of iron ore and coal. |
| New Mangalore Port | Karnataka | Artificial port |
| Cochin Port | Kerala | Natural port; major exporter of spices, tea, and coffee. |
| Chennai Port | Tamil Nadu | Artificial port; 2nd busiest port in India |
| Ennore Port (Kamarajar Port) | Tamil Nadu | Artificial port, 1st corporatized port |
| Tuticorin Port (V.O. Chidambaranar Port) | Tamil Nadu | Artificial port; handles coal, salt, and fertilizers. |
| Visakhapatnam Port | Andhra Pradesh | Natural port |
| Paradip Port | Odisha | Artificial port |
| Kolkata Port (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port) | West Bengal | Only major riverine port in the country; handles export of jute, tea, and coal. |
| Vadhavan Port | Maharashtra (Under construction) | Artificial port; will handle mega vessels. |
Previous Year Question
Consider the following pairs:
Port: Well known as
1. Kamarajar Port: First major port in India registered as a company
2. Mundra Port: Largest privately owned port in India
3. Visakhapatnam: Largest container port in Port India
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) All three pairs
(d) None of the pairs
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Mundra Port, India’s biggest commercial port by volumes, has overtaken state-run Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to become the country’s largest container gateway by handling 5.65 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in FY21, posting a growth of 18 per cent compared to last year. Hence, Pair 3 is not correctly matched.