Describe the major sea ports of India.
India has a long coastline of 7,516.6 km. There are 12 major and 181 medium and minor ports. These major ports handle 95 per cent of India’s foreign trade. The major sea ports of India are as given below : Kandla in Kuchchh (Gujarat): Kandla is a tidal port. It caters to the needs of handling of exports and imports of highly productive granary and industrial belt stretching across the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Mumbai port (Maharashtra) : It is the biggest port with natural and well-sheltered harbdhr. Jawaharlal Nehru port was planned with a view to decongest the Mumbai port and serve as a support for this region. Marmagao port (Goa): It is the premier iron ore exporting port. This port accounts for about 50% of India’s iron ore export. New Mangalore port (Karnataka): It exports iron ore from Kudremukh mines. Kochchi port: It is the extreme south-western port which is located at the entrance of a lagoon with a natural harbour. Tuticorin port (Tamil Nadu): It has a natural harbour and rich hinterland. It handles cargoes to Sri Lanka and Maldives too. Chennai port (Tamil Nadu): It is one of the oldest artificial ports of India. It is next to Mumbai in volume of trade and cargo. Vishakhapatnam port (Andhra Pradesh) : It is the deepest landlocked and well-protected port. Paradip port (Orissa): It specialises in the export of iron ore. Kolkata port (West Bengal): It is ar»-inland riverine port. It is a tidal port and requires constant dredging of Hoogly. Haldia port: It was developed as a subsidiary port in order to relieve growing pressure on the Kolkata port.
