Performance of Major Indian Ports- A Perspective

Operations in the Ports were monopolized by the government up to the 1990s. In 1990 a broad public private partnership programme was initiated to improve the port sector performance. But has the performance of the port improved? If so what would be the possible variables that are influencing the performance? The present paper attempts to understand the variables that are crucial for operational as well as financial performance of the port. The study analyzes dredging expenditure, operating expenditure, operating surplus, idle time to berth time, vessels handled at ports and forecasts capacities of major ports namely- Kolkata and Haldia, Chennai, Cochin, JNPT, Kandla, Mormugao, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Paradip, Tuticorin and Visakhapatnam to understand their role in port performance. The database is created from publications of Center for Monitoring Indian Economy and Ministry of Shipping. The period of study is from 2002–2010.