Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 26: Paradip Port in Odisha has received Mega Port status under the Indian Ports Act, 2025. It is the only such port on India’s East Coast. Officials expect stronger maritime infrastructure and connectivity.
India’s eastern seaboard now has a port in the country’s newest top category. Paradip Port in Odisha has been designated a Mega Port.
It is the only port on the East Coast to hold the status. The designation was made under Section 73 of the Indian Ports Act, 2025.
Indian Ports Act Creates a New Port Tier
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issued the notification on September 25, 2026. Paradip qualified after meeting the structural and operational criteria prescribed under Section 73.
The notification took effect on publication in the Gazette of India . It was issued by Praveen P Nair, a Joint Secretary in the ministry.
Mega Port is a legal designation within this framework. The notification details reported do not specify financial or regulatory benefits attached to it. Its immediate effect is formal recognition within India’s port framework.
Paradip Stands Alone on India’s East Coast
The geographical distinction is the most notable feature of Paradip’s designation. Paradip is the only designated Mega Port on India’s eastern coast. It is not India’s only Mega Port, however.
The distinction gives eastern India a presence in the new top tier. Paradip is described as an important maritime gateway on that coast. Its strategic location supports both coastal trade and international trade.
That role now sits within a formal national classification. The status does not, by itself, establish any new cargo ranking.
Four Indian Ports Share Mega Port Status
Three other ports received the designation alongside Paradip. They are Deendayal Port, or Kandla, and Jawaharlal Nehru Port, or Nhava Sheva. Mundra Port completes the group of four.
Mundra’s classification differs from the others. The notification classifies it as a port other than a major port. That shows Mega Port status is not restricted to major ports.
The four ports do not operate identically, but all met the prescribed criteria.
Maritime Connectivity and Infrastructure Growth Expected
The designation is expected to strengthen Paradip’s port infrastructure. It is also expected to improve operational capabilities and maritime connectivity.
These are anticipated benefits, not completed outcomes. Mega Port status does not automatically deliver new berths or terminals. Any infrastructure gains will depend on how the port develops from here.
For coastal and international trade, the recognition reinforces Paradip’s gateway role.
Paradip Port Authority Calls Status a Significant Milestone
Susanta Kumar Purohit chairs the Paradip Port Authority. He called the Mega Port status a significant milestone in the port’s development. In his view, it will help support infrastructure growth at Paradip.
He also linked it to better operational efficiency and stronger maritime trade. Purohit thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for support to the maritime sector. He also thanked Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister of State Shantanu Thakur. The legal notification itself was issued through the ministry.
A Formal Place in India’s Port Framework
The designation changes Paradip’s institutional position rather than its physical footprint. It places an Odisha port within India’s newest port category. It also gives the East Coast representation in that tier.
Whether the status translates into wider gains will depend on execution. For now, Paradip’s gateway role has formal legal recognition.
