On December 5, 2025, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways answered Unstarred Question No. 1099 by Shri Captain Viriato Fernandes regarding policies for port limits.
Key details are:
* There is no component of public participation/hearing/consultation before notifying port limits for minor ports handled by respective State Maritime board under Indian Ports Act 1908 and Indian Ports Act, 2025.
* The State Governments are empowered to notify the port limits for port other than Major Port, under the Acts of 1908 and 2025. Under the 2025 Act, the Central Government will prescribe uniform procedure (norms, form and manner) for declaration of ports and alteration of port limits by way of Rules framed in consultation with State Governments and Union Territories.
* Details of major ports coastline in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala are as follows:
* **Gujarat (Deendayal Port):** 54.13 km
* **Maharashtra (Jawaharlal Nehru Port):** 37.59 km
* **Maharashtra (Mumbai Port):** 33 km
* **Goa (Mormugao Port):** 71.50 km
* **Karnataka (New Mangalore Port):** 12.56 km
* **Kerala (Cochin Port):** 37.04 km
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Ports Act 2025: Act providing the statutory mechanism for port notification and defining port limits, including empowering State Governments to notify port limits.
Indian Ports Act 1908: Act providing the statutory mechanism for port notification and defining port limits, including empowering State Governments to notify port limits.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The central ministry responsible for policies related to ports and waterways, and answering questions related to these policies.
West Coast (India): The geographical location relevant to estimating the extent of India's coastline covered under Port Limits.
State Governments: Governments empowered to notify port limits under the Acts of 1908 and 2025.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1099
ANSWERED ON 05.12.2025
POLICIES FOR PORT LIMITS
1099. SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी
(a) whether there is any component of Public participation/hearing/consultation before
notifying port limits for minor ports handled by respective State Maritime board under
Indian Ports Act 1908 and Indian Ports Act, 2025, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Central Government has any policy for which Gazette Notification for Port
Limits are issued by the State Government under Indian Ports Act, 1908 and Indian Ports
Act 2025, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Central Government has any estimate regarding the extent of the
India's coastline especially on the West Coast covered under Port Limits including the
State of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala, State-wise and if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) No Sir.
(b) Yes Sir. Both the Acts of 1908 and 2025 provide the statutory mechanism for port
notification as well as for defining port limits. The State Governments are empowered to
notify the port limits for port other than Major Port, under the Acts of 1908 and 2025.
Under the 2025 Act, the Central Government will prescribe uniform procedure (norms,
form and manner) for declaration of ports and alteration of port limits by way of Rules
framed in consultation with State Governments and Union Territories.(c) The details of major ports coastline in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa,
Karnataka and Kerala are as under :-
Sl. No. State Major Ports Coastline length (in Km)
1 Gujarat Deendayal Port 54.13
2 Maharashtra Jawaharlal Nehru Port 37.59
Mumbai Port 33
3 Goa Mormugao Port 71.50
4 Karnataka New Manglore Port 12.56
5 Kerala Cochin Port 37.04
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