The Union government has clarified that the 12 Major Ports remain under Government of India ownership, while terminals and berths are being developed through public-private partnership (PPP) models and the Captive Policy, 2016. The clarification matters because port reform is often confused with privatisation; the government has reiterated that ownership of land and core port assets continues with the public authority.

The statement was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. The reply also places the port sector within the landlord port model, where the port authority retains ownership and regulatory control while private operators handle specified terminals under competitive concession arrangements.

What the government said about port ownership and governance

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said that the 12 Major Ports are Chennai Port, Cochin Port, Deendayal Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Kamarajar Port, Mormugao Port, Mumbai Port, New Mangalore Port, Paradip Port, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, V.O. Chidambaranar Port, and Visakhapatnam Port.

The ministry also said that except Kamarajar Port, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chennai Port Authority and incorporated under the Companies Act, the remaining 11 major ports are governed by the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021.

The government said Major Ports provide common infrastructure and regulatory oversight, while specified berths and terminals are developed and operated either by the port authority or through private participation under PPP or captive arrangements.

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