A commemorative postage stamp on 125 Years of the Bombay Port Trust, a natural deep-water harbour of Mumbai, Maharashtra :

Issued by India

Issued on Jun 26, 1999

Issued for : The Department of Posts issue a commemorative stamp to mark the 125^th anniversary of Mumbai Port Trust.

Design : The First Day Cover depicts ‘Prongs’ Light House superimposed on the logo of Mumbai Port Trust.

Credits :
Stamp, FDC & Cancellation design : MUMBAI PORT TRUST

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Single Colour

Denomination : 300 Paise

Overall size : 4.06 x 2.28 cms.

Printing size : 3.71 x 1.93 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper in Sheets 50.8 x 53.5 cms.

Stamps Printed : 0.7 Million

Number per issue sheet : 50

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• Mumbai Port – known as the “Gateway of India” or the “Nation’s 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 harbor 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 26.08.1873 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 cognizance 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 5 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.
• Text : Mumbai Port Trust.

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