MAJOR PORTS ADJUDICATORY BOARD RULES, 2023
The Government of India legislated the Major Port Authorities Act in 2021. Section 54 of the act brings in the need for the constitution of an Adjudicatory Board to regulate the major ports in the country. Section 58 of the act gives the function of the board. The Government of India recently issued a notice regarding the rules of the board.
Contents
• Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules
• Members of the board
• Major Ports of India
Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules
• The board will set the port tariffs
• It will take over the roles and responsibilities of the tariff authorities currently operating in respective ports
• It will function under the same authority as granted to a civil court
• The board has full power to adjudicate the rights of the ports, their obligations, partnership concessions, dedicated berths
• Board also has powers to issue orders based on the complaints registered by the users of the ports. The users include private participants as well
• It can investigate the operations of the ports at any time at will
Members of the board
A selection committee is to choose the members of the board. The committee is formed by the Chief Justice of India, the Personnel and Training department, shipping ministry secretaries.
Major Ports of India
There are more than 200 ports in India. However, not all the ports are categorized as major ports. The Indian Ports Act, of 1908 defines the Major Ports as the port declared by the Union Government. The Central Government declares a port as a major port based on the facilities in the port. Today there are 13 major ports in India.
| ZONE | STATE | PORT | FEATURES |
| Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu | Chennai | Artificial Port
Second busiest port |
| Western Coast | Kerala | Kochi | Sited in the Vembanad lake Exports of spices and salts |
| Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu | Ennore | India’s First corporatized port |
| Eastern Coast | West Bengal | Kolkata | India’s only major Riverine port
Situated on Hugli river |
| Western Coast | Gujarat | Kandla | Known as Tidal Port Acknowledged as Trade Free Zone Largest port by volume of cargo handled. |
| Western Coast | Karnataka | Mangalore | Deals with the iron ore exports |
| Western Coast | Goa | Mormugao | Situated on the estuary of the river Zuari |
| Western Coast | Maharashtra | Mumbai Port Trust | Largest Natural Port and harbour In India
The busiest port in India |
| Western Coast | Maharashtra | Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) also known as Nhava Sheva, Navi Mumbai | Largest Artificial Port
It is the Largest Container Port in India. |
| Eastern Coast | Odisha | Paradip | Natural Harbor deals with the export of iron and aluminium |
| Eastern Coast | Tamil Nadu | Tuticorin | A major port in south India deals with the fertilizers and petrochemical products |
| Eastern Coast | Andhra Pradesh | Visakhapatnam | Deepest port of India deals with the export of iron ore to Japan. Amenities for building and fixing of ships are available |
| Bay of Bengal | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Port Blair | The port connected to the mainland of India through ship and flight. This port is situated in between two international shipping lines namely Saudi Arabia & US Singapore. |