Ports along the 7, 517 odd Kilometer long peninsular coastline of India have suddenly become the cynosure of investor and public policy attention in India. Cumulative pressure for widespread policy-related reforms in the port sector coupled with growing investor interest in taking up port projects has been building up ever since the country embarked on the path of economic liberalization and opened its doors to forces of globalization. The pace of growth has particularly gathered momentum since the government invited private sector participation in development of port infrastructure, especially in designated major ports of the country in 1996. The story of India's efforts to modernize its port infrastructure and bring them on par with the international benchmarks arguably got a kick-start with the establishment of Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT). Overall macro-economic development objectives of public policy rather than considerations of business and enterprise-level efficiency and optimization of port organizations have guided much of the understanding about the working of the ports in the country. The report covers the details of around 12 Ports situated in th