Consider the following statements regarding Indian ports:

1. Mundra Port, the largest commercial port in India, is a government-owned entity under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

2. Kochi Port, being a major port, does not handle any transshipment traffic, unlike smaller private ports.

3. Visakhapatnam Port is the only major port on the east coast that is naturally deep-drafted, requiring no significant dredging operations.

4. Ennore Port, unlike all other ports in India, is the only corporate port under the Companies Act and does not function under the Major Port Trusts Act.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct answer is option 1.

Key Points

• Statement 1: Incorrect – Mundra Port is the largest commercial port in India, but it is privately owned by the Adani Group, not a government entity.
• Statement 2: Incorrect – Kochi Port is a major transshipment hub in India, home to the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam.
• Statement 3: Incorrect – While Visakhapatnam Port is deep-drafted, dredging is still required periodically for navigational purposes. Other east coast ports, such as Chennai and Paradip, also have deep drafts.
• Statement 4: Correct – Ennore Port (renamed Kamarajar Port) is India’s first corporate port, operating under the Companies Act and not governed by the Major Port Trusts Act.