Correct Option
The correct option is Kolkata
Explanation
Ports are critical nodes in trade, serving specific hinte-the inland areas that rely on the port for imports and exports. While most Major Ports in India are sea-based, Kolkata Port (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port) is unique as it is India's only major riverine port, located on the Hooghly River.
Analysis
- Kolkata Port (Option a): Located in West Bengal, it is geographically the closest major port to the Himalayan hinterland. It serves as the primary gateway for trade originating from or destined for Eastern India, Northern India, and the North-Eastern states. Crucially, it handles the transit trade for the landlocked Himalayan countries of Nepal and Bhutan.
- Paradeep Port (Option b): Located in Odisha, this port primarily serves the mineral-rich hinterland of Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. While it serves Eastern India, it is located further south compared to Kolkata and is not the primary gateway for the Himalayan region.
- Kochi Port (Option c): Located in Kerala on the south-west coast, it serves the hinterland of Southern India.
- Tuticorin Port (Option d): Located in Tamil Nadu on the south-east coast, it serves the extreme southern peninsula.
Key Takeaway
Kolkata Port is the only riverine Major Port in India and acts as the strategic trade gateway for the Himalayan hinterland, including North Bengal, the North-East, Nepal, and Bhutan.