Major Ports handled highest ever cargo at 795 MMT in FY23 : MoPSW Secretary

Cont’d. from Pg. 4

“Our Major Ports have handled thehighestevercargointhehistoryof the ports at 795 million metric tonne. This is 10 per cent higher than the previous year's cargo handled," hewasquotedbyPTI.

India has 12 Major Ports -Deendayal (Kandla), Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore (Kamarajar), Tuticorin (V O Chidambaranar), Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) and Jawaharlal NehruPort.

"Four or five of the Major Ports, including Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata), Deendayal (Kandla),

Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Paradip have recorded the highest ever cargo,"Pantadded.

He also pointed out that after many many years, the Major Ports have recorded a higher annual growththanthatofnon-majorports.

Non-Major Ports are administered by State Governments. Many State Governments have given such ports on lease to private partners.

"So, this year (2022-23), Major Ports achieved an overall growth of 10.4 per cent, while Non-Major Ports achieved a growth 1.5to2percentlessthanthis,"hesaid.

While the share of Major Ports in the total cargo was 54 per cent and Non-Major Ports was 46 per cent in FY22, Pant said in FY23, the share of majorportsroseto55percentandthat ofnon-majorportsfellto45percent.

"So even 1 per cent shift is a very significant achievement for major ports, because despite so many challenges, they have increased their shareby1percent,"hesaid.

Pant also said the inland waterways increased their cargo handling by 16 per cent to 126 million tonne in 2022-23 from 109 million tonnein2021-22.

He said the turnaround time in Major Ports has reduced by 3-4 hours to48-49hours.