Mumbai Port-known as the 'Gateway of India' or the 'Nations Window to the outside World'-has made a significant contribution to the nation 's trade and commerce. Strategically situated at the mid-point on the west coast and gifted with a magnificent natural harbour of 400 sq kms, Mumbai Port has been the country's premier port for several decades.

The Mumbai (Bombay as it was then known) Port Trust was constituted on 26.06.1873 for the administrations of the affairs of the port and take care of the interest of trade endangered by the possession by private companies of a monopoly of landing and shifting facilities.

On its constitution, the port management immediately set about constructing facilities to service the trade. First came the Prince's Dock  in  1880 followed by Victoria Dock in  1888. With  these two wet docks in operation, concentration was on development of other  infrastructure  facilities, equipment, transportation and storage. The deepening of the Suez Canal hastened the growth of trade which in its wake brought in deep  drafted vessels. Taking congnizance of this change, the Port Trust constructed Alexandra Dock, now known as Indira Dock, in 1914, with 9.14 metres draft in the basin and an entrance lock providing for berthing of ships round  the clock. Road and railway infrastructure was added to handle the increasing traffic with the port 's own railway running from Wadala to Ballard Pier serving all the cargo berths in the docks and the passenger berth at Ballard Pier and linked with the main railway network thereby providing connectivity  to the entire country.

The Port has now 50 berths in the three dock systems mentioned above for handling of general cargo and containers and 6 berths for liquid cargo at Jawahar Dweep and Pir Pau with various crafts and equipment for handling of the ships and cargo and covered storage accommodation  of  approximately  3.5 lakhs sq.  mtrs. and  open  storage  spaces  of  approximately  S lakh  sq. mtrs.  The  Port  also  provides  modern  ship  repair facilities through  its two dry docks.

The Mumbai Port has provided the base for development of the city  with   employment opportunities and commercial and financial  trade.  It has been a major factor in Mumbai becoming the commercial and financial capital of India. A number of Public roads in the city were originally constructed by Mumbai Port trust and handed over to the Municipal Corporation. The Mumbai Port  Trust  made  a significant contribution  in the development of the city.

The Department of Posts issues  a commemorative stamp to mark the 125th anniversary of Mumbai Port Trust.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India