Structural Inefficiencies in India's Port Network: A Network Analysis Approach

Ports play a crucial role in supporting international trade and economic development, particularly for countries like India where maritime transport handles a large share of trade flows. In recent years, the Government of India has undertaken several initiatives aimed at expanding port capacity and improving logistics infrastructure. Despite these efforts, inefficiencies continue to exist within the port system, suggesting that the issue may not be limited to infrastructure constraints alone. The structure of connectivity between ports can also influence the overall efficiency and resilience of the maritime network. This study examines the structural connectivity of selected Indian ports using a network analysis approach. Within the analytical framework, ports are treated as nodes while the connections between them represent maritime or operational linkages. By constructing a conceptual port network and analyzing connectivity patterns, the study identifies ports that function as major hubs as well as those that remain weakly integrated within the network. The findings indicate that connectivity is concentrated around a small number of dominant ports such as Chennai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), and Visakhapatnam, while several other ports occupy peripheral positions despite possessing infrastructure capacity. These results suggest that structural imbalance in connectivity may contribute to inefficiencies within India’s port system. Strengthening integration among ports and promoting more balanced connectivity could improve logistics efficiency and enhance the resilience of the national maritime network.