Mormugao Port Authority Faces Severe Workforce Shortage, Operating at 55% Capacity
Panaji: The Mormugao Port Authority is grappling with a significant workforce crisis, with data tabled in the Rajya Sabha revealing that the port is operating at barely 55% of its sanctioned strength. As of March, the port had 679 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 1,512 posts, highlighting a severe staffing deficit that has persisted for years.
Drastic Workforce Reduction Over Five Years
The actual workforce at Mormugao Port has shrunk dramatically from 1,408 employees in April 2021 to just 833 currently, representing a reduction of nearly 41% over a five-year period. This decline is particularly alarming given the port's operational demands and cargo handling responsibilities.
Recruitment has consistently lagged behind vacancies since 2021, with the port filling only 69 positions over five-and-a-half years. Between 2020-21 and March, just 24 posts were filled on a regular basis and 45 on a contract or outsourced basis. In the current financial year up to March 1, recruitment has been minimal with only one regular and one contract post filled.
Sanctioned Strength Systematically Reduced
Compounding the workforce shortage is the fact that the sanctioned strength itself has been progressively reduced from 2,447 in April 2021 to 1,512 by March this year. This suggests the port has been systematically downsizing its workforce on paper even as operational requirements continue.
The sharpest single-year drop occurred between April 2024 and April 2025, when sanctioned strength fell from 2,034 to 1,577. This reduction coincided with the port's increased reliance on public-private partnership agreements to commercialize berths and cargo handling operations.
Current Workforce Distribution and Operational Performance
Of the 833 employees currently in position, the distribution across departments reveals interesting patterns:
- Engineering (mechanical) department: 215 staff
- Cargo handling labor: 180 employees
- Traffic department: 85 personnel
- Civil engineering: 92 staff members
Notably, the vigilance department has just one person on its rolls, raising questions about oversight capacity.
Despite these staffing constraints, the port managed to handle 19.3 million tonnes of total traffic in the current financial year up to February 2026. Operational metrics show an average turnaround time for cargo vessels of 66 hours and an output of 20,030 tonnes per ship berth day.
Government Response and Policy Compliance
Minister of Ports Sarbananda Sonowal addressed the situation, stating that recruitment procedures have complied with all reservation policies. He emphasized that no individual complaints regarding recruitment or irregular posting practices have been received since 2021.
The data paints a complex picture of a major Indian port navigating workforce reductions while maintaining operational efficiency. The systematic downsizing of sanctioned positions combined with minimal recruitment raises questions about long-term sustainability and capacity to handle growing maritime trade demands.
