CAPF AC 2021 Q101: Geography – Transport & Infrastructure Geography
- (a) Mormugao
- (b) Deendayal
- (c) Kolkata
- (d) Paradip
Answer: (c) Kolkata
Explanation
India's only riverine major port
How to think: a riverine port is on a river, away from the open sea.
Kolkata port lies on the Hugli river, about 200 km inland from the Bay of Bengal.
| Port | State | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Kolkata (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port) | West Bengal | Riverine, on the Hugli |
| Mormugao | Goa | Natural harbour at the mouth of the Zuari estuary |
| Deendayal (Kandla) | Gujarat | Tidal port in the Gulf of Kachchh |
| Paradip | Odisha | Artificial deep-water port on the open coast |
Its problem: the Hugli carries a lot of silt, so constant dredging is needed.
Haldia was built downstream to reduce the load on Kolkata.
Answer: (c) Kolkata.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Mormugao is a natural harbour on the Goa coast.
- (b) Incorrect. Deendayal port (Kandla) is a tidal port on a creek of the Gulf of Kachchh.
- (c) CORRECT. Kolkata on the Hugli is India's only riverine major port.
- (d) Incorrect. Paradip is a deep-water port on the Odisha coast.
Key point
Kolkata: only riverine major port, on the Hugli, with Haldia as its dock system downstream. Kandla (Deendayal): tidal port. Mumbai: largest natural harbour. Chennai: oldest artificial harbour. India has 12 major ports plus Vadhavan approved as the 13th.
Remember
Kolkata on the Hugli: the only riverine major port.
Common mistakes
- Marking Kandla, which is a tidal port, not a riverine one.
- Thinking Paradip is on the Mahanadi river; it is on the sea coast near the delta.
- Forgetting that the old name Kandla is now Deendayal port.
Exam tip
Educated guess: Kolkata city itself stands on the Hugli, far from the sea. The other three are plainly on the coast.
Sources
- NCERT Class XII Geography — India: People and Economy, Chapter 11: International Trade (sea ports)
- Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways — Major Ports of India