Mormugao Port Authority is grappling with a significant workforce crunch, operating at barely 55% of its sanctioned strength even as it continues to handle substantial cargo volumes.
Data tabled in the Rajya Sabha reveals that the port had 679 vacancies against an approved strength of 1,512 posts as of March. The actual workforce has sharply declined from 1,408 employees in April 2021 to just 833 currently — a drop of nearly 41% over five years.
The figures point to a persistent mismatch between vacancies and recruitment. Between 2020-21 and March this year, the port filled only 24 posts on a regular basis and 45 through contract or outsourced hiring — a total of just 69 recruitments against hundreds of vacancies. In the current financial year up to March 1, recruitment has been minimal, with only one regular and one contractual position filled.
At the same time, the sanctioned strength itself has been steadily reduced — from 2,447 in April 2021 to 1,512 now — indicating a deliberate downsizing strategy. The steepest reduction came between April 2024 and April 2025, when sanctioned posts fell from 2,034 to 1,577. This period coincided with the port’s increasing reliance on public-private partnerships (PPPs) to commercialise berths and cargo handling operations.
Despite the staffing constraints, Mormugao Port has maintained operational performance. It handled 19.3 million tonnes of cargo in the current financial year up to February 2026. The average turnaround time for vessels stood at 66 hours, while output per ship berth day was recorded at 20,030 tonnes.
Department-wise, the engineering (mechanical) division has the highest number of employees at 215, followed by cargo handling labour (180), civil engineering (92), and the traffic department (85). Notably, the vigilance department is staffed by just one individual.
Responding to concerns, Union Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal stated that all recruitment processes adhere to reservation policies. He added that no complaints regarding recruitment irregularities or posting practices have been received since 2021.
The data highlights a port increasingly dependent on outsourcing and structural downsizing, even as it continues to function under significant manpower constraints.
