Port trust
Topic: Urban Local Government: Municipalities and Cities · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A port trust was a body that managed a major port. It also gave civic amenities in the port area, such as roads, water and street lights, so it worked like a small local government there. Port trusts were governed by the Major Port Trusts Act 1963. The Major Port Authorities Act 2021 replaced that Act, and major ports are now run by port authorities.
Example
Before 2021, the trust of a major port such as Mumbai or Chennai ran the docks and also looked after civic services inside the port area. After the 2021 Act, port authorities took over that work.
Don't confuse with
- Cantonment board: it serves the civilian population of a military cantonment and comes under the Ministry of Defence. A port trust served the area of a port.