In a remarkable advancement for India’s port development initiatives, nine Indian ports have been ranked among the Global Top 100 in the latest edition of the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2023. The report, prepared by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, highlights the significant strides made by Indian ports in operational efficiency and service delivery.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, attributed this success to the ambitious Sagarmala programme. The programme focuses on the modernisation and mechanisation of ports, alongside the integration of advanced technologies to boost performance and efficiency.

“This is a tremendous achievement for the Indian ports and is a testament to the efforts taken by the Narendra Modi Government to modernise, mechanise, and make them technologically savvy to improve performance and enhance efficiency,” said Sonowal.

He further highlighted that these efforts have led to the incorporation of new technologies and green infrastructure, ensuring the stability of global markets and the sustainability of India’s maritime industry. “With sustained effort in this regard, we are confident that the Indian maritime sector will further improve resilience and efficiency of maritime gateways and boost port-led economic development,” Sonowal added.

Among the top performers, Vishakhapatnam Port stood out with an impressive 27.5 moves per crane hour, a turnaround time (TRT) of 21.4 hours, and minimal berth idle time, showcasing exceptional efficiency in handling container ships. These metrics have significantly enhanced customer preference and port performance.

Other Indian ports making it to the top 100 include Pipavav (41), Kamarajar (47), Cochin (63), Hazira (68), Krishnapatnam (71), Chennai (80), and Jawaharlal Nehru (96).

By Manish Poswal