The Government of India has formally notified Deendayal Port (Kandla), Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva), Paradip Port and Mundra Port as “Mega Ports”, marking a significant milestone in the development of India’s maritime infrastructure and trade gateways.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issued Notification S.O. 5303(E) on September 25, 2026, under Section 73(2) and 73(3) of the Indian Ports Act, 2025. The notification states that the four ports meet the criteria prescribed by the Central Government for classification as Mega Ports. The designation takes effect from the date of publication in the Gazette of India.
The four newly notified Mega Ports are:
- Deendayal Port (Kandla), Gujarat
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva), Maharashtra
- Paradip Port, Odisha
- Mundra Port, Gujarat
While Deendayal, JNPA and Paradip are major ports, Mundra is classified as a port other than a major port under the notification.
The notification represents the formal implementation of the Mega Port framework introduced under the Indian Ports Act, 2025. The designation is intended to recognise ports meeting prescribed structural and operational criteria and to support the development of high-capacity maritime gateways.
Paradip Port becomes the only notified Mega Port on India’s East Coast, while Deendayal and Mundra give Gujarat two Mega Ports on the western coast. JNPA, India’s key container gateway, completes the four-port network.
The development comes as India continues to expand port capacity, improve multimodal hinterland connectivity and strengthen port-led industrial development. India’s maritime sector handles the overwhelming majority of the country’s international trade by volume, making the development of large and efficient gateways strategically important for the country’s logistics and trade ecosystem.
The notification marks a new chapter in India’s port development strategy, placing four strategically important gateways under the country’s formal Mega Port framework.