Average turnaround time of major Indian ports nearly halves in 10 years

The average turnaround time for the major ports in India has nearly halved to 48.06 hours in 2023-24 from 93.59 hours in 2013-14.

This has been made possible by the construction of new berths, terminals, and parking plazas, mechanisation / modernisation, optimisation of existing berths and terminals, streamlining of processes through digitisation, improved logistics through hinterland connectivity through rail and road, etc.

The details of port-wise turnaround time of Major Ports for the financial years 2023-24 are given below:

Ports (FY24) Turnaround time (in hours) 

Deendayal Port 54.24

Mumbai Port 62.97

Jawaharlal Nehru Port 26

Mormugao Port 65.61

New Mangalore Port 40.44

Cochin Port 33.4

VO Chidambaranar Port 51.36

Chennai Port 44.92

Kamarajar Port 44.37

Visakhapatnam Port 65.86

Paradip Port 41.61

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port 60.85

Overall Average 48.06

While berth allocation and vessel sequencing is done as per the berthing policy prescribed by the ministry, improvement in turnaround time of ships is achieved through infrastructure development and mechanisation of port operations, which in turn will augment port’s cargo handling capacity.

Capacity augmentation of major ports is a continuous process, which involves construction of new berths and terminals, mechanisation of berths and terminals, capital dredging for deepening of drafts for berthing of larger vessels, and improvement in road and rail connectivity, union minister of ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply on Tuesday.