Indian ports charge far too much

 Despite high productivity levels achieved by Indian ports in the past few years, vessel-related charges are still the highest as compared to our nearest international competitors, Singapore, Colombo and Dubai.

 The charges in Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT), which handled 1.93 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2002-03 are 75 per cent higher at $37 per TEU as compared to Singapore.

 Both Colombo and Dubai ports also charge at much lower rates of $7 and $6 per TEU respectively.