Which one of the following is the deepest, inland and protected port on the east coast of India ?

Visakhapatnam Port, located in Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of India, is recognized as the deepest, land-locked, and well-protected port [1]. It is described as a land-locked harbour because it is surrounded by land on all sides and connected to the sea by a narrow channel cut through solid rock and sand [1]. This unique topography provides natural protection from storms and waves, making it a 'protected' port. While Paradip is also a deep-water port on the east coast situated in the Mahanadi delta [1], and Chennai and Tuticorin are significant seaports, Visakhapatnam specifically fits the description of being 'inland' (land-locked) and 'protected' [1]. The port handles major bulk cargo including iron ore and petroleum, and has an outer harbour developed to accommodate large vessels [1].

Sources

1. [1] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: International Trade > Can you find out the reasons for the variations in the location of ports along the two coasts? > p. 92