Tamilnadu ports contribution in cargo Handling

About how much cargo (in million tonnes) was handled by Tamil Nadu ports in 2021-22, contributing approximately 10% of the total cargo at Indian ports?

(A) 100.12 MT
(B) 129.24 MT
(C) 150.36 MT
(D) 110.45 MT

EXPLANATION

1️⃣ Cargo Handled by Tamil Nadu Ports

  • In FY 2021–22, Tamil Nadu’s major ports handled approximately 87.3 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo.

  • This accounted for roughly 10% of the total cargo handled at Indian major ports, which was about 855 MMT in the same period.

2️⃣ Major Ports in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has several important ports, including:

  1. Chennai Port – One of the oldest and largest ports.

  2. Kamarajar Port (Ennore/Kolathur) – Handles bulk and container cargo.

  3. Tuticorin (V.O. Chidambaranar) Port – Key for industrial cargo.

  4. Cuddalore Port – Mainly minor cargo handling.

  5. Nagapattinam Port – Limited commercial activity.

The majority of cargo comes from Chennai Port and Kamarajar Port.

3️⃣ Calculation of Tamil Nadu’s Share

  • Total cargo at Indian major ports (2021–22): 855 MMT

  • Tamil Nadu’s share (~10%):

855×0.10≈85.5 MMT855 \times 0.10 \approx 85.5 \text{ MMT}

  • Actual reported cargo: 87.3 MMT, which is consistent with the ~10% contribution.

4️⃣ Significance

  1. Economic Contribution: Tamil Nadu ports support industrial, export, and import activities.

  2. Strategic Importance: Being a coastal state, it acts as a gateway for southern India’s maritime trade.

  3. Growth Potential: Ports like Kamarajar and Tuticorin are expanding to handle more cargo.

✅ Conclusion

  • In FY 2021–22, Tamil Nadu ports handled 87.3 MMT of cargo, about 10% of India’s total cargo at major ports.

Answer:
(B) 129.24 MT ✅

Tamilnadu ports contribution in cargo Handling