Modeling challenges affecting the performance of major ports of India

Purpose: Despite several initiatives taken by government of India since 2013 to improve the performance of major ports, growth was not as anticipated. Hence, there is a need to understand the performance of these major ports during 2013-2020 and to identify the critical challenges that affect their performance. Design/methodology/approach: Performance analysis was conducted using Malmquist productivity index (MPI) and critical challenges were identified using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) technique as well as the cross-impact matrix multiplication (MICMAC). Findings: Ten major ports in terms of operational, 12 ports in terms of service quality, and six ports in terms of financial performance have been categorised as high performers, based on the MPI values. 19 challenges affecting the performance were identified in an eight layered ISM model. Research limitations: This research is limited to major ports of India and does not cover the non-major ports of India due to unavailability of data. Practical implications: This study will enable the port decision-makers to identify the ports which are high performers in terms of operational, service quality, and financial performance, and thereby the best practices followed across can be replicated. Originality/value: This study explored the multi dimensions of performance of Major ports of India and there was no such study in the past. Despite the existence of performance studies in the literature, none of them explored the challenges faced by the major ports.