India is looking to develop a number of new and small ports for commercial shipping transportation, according to data released by India’s Ministry of Shipping.

Based on the traffic and cargo scenario of the country’s twelve Major Ports, a master plan has been prepared for expansion of port capacity, which includes a number of new ports.

Namely, it is understood that India’s Kolkata Port proposed the development of a port at Sagar Island, West Bengal, in an effort to reduce the constraints including long river navigation, available draft navigation due to persistent siltation and high dredging cost. Projected traffic is to be around 3.5 million tons per annum in 2020 increasing to around 27 million tons in 2035.