The government-run ports in Chennai, Paradip and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai are developing satellite ports as part of their expansion plans, two government officials aware of the development said.
A satellite port can either be one that is already existing or is created near a port that is reaching capacity. Satellite ports help overcome issues such as limited land availability and draft adequacy, which is depth of water to which a ship sinks according to its load.
While Chennai and Pondicherry ports signed an agreement on 14 March to convert the one in Pondicherry as a satellite port for Chennai, talks are on to expand Outer Harbour Paradip Port to be made a satellite port for Paradip port.
Similarly, Mormugao port in Goa is also exploring options to expand port infrastructure, including constructing a satellite port at Betul in Goa.
JNPT, which ships more than half the containerized cargo passing through India’s ports, is in the process of acquiring Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra, which was approved by the government in 2015 to act as its satellite port.
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