The Andaman and Nicobar Port Management Board has rolled out a fully digital port-entry system that replaces several long-standing manual procedures, marking a major shift in how citizens, contractors, drivers and workers access port premises across the islands. The Port Pravesh Management System, developed in coordination with SOVTECH, was formally launched in Sri Vijaya Puram, bringing years of demand for a streamlined entry process to an operational reality.
For decades, the PMB issued individual and vehicle permanent passes, government entry passes and temporary permits, daily, weekly or monthly, through an offline format that required multiple visits, document submissions and physical verification. Port users had repeatedly flagged the cumbersome process, often citing delays and inconsistent turnaround times. The new system is designed to eliminate those bottlenecks by allowing users to complete every step online, from application submission to approval.
The launch is projected to ease operational pressure at port gates while enhancing transparency, a key objective of the Administration’s push toward digital governance. The system incorporates QR code-based verification, enabling security personnel to validate entry permits instantly without relying on manual records. Officials expect this change to reduce crowding at entry points, especially during peak operational hours, and bring greater discipline to movement within restricted areas.
Applicants can now log into portpravesh.andamannicobar.gov.in to apply for permanent or temporary passes. The platform supports document uploads, real-time status tracking and digital receipt of approvals. Port authorities believe that the shift to online scrutiny will reduce the risk of forged or duplicate passes, an issue that had grown difficult to manage under physical record-keeping systems.
The introduction of digital passes is also expected to strengthen access control for sensitive port regions where cargo handling, vessel movement, and infrastructure operations require precise monitoring. With QR codes integrated into each pass, gate staff can instantly verify identity, validity and access permissions. This is intended to reduce human error, shorten wait times and build a more accountable mechanism for regulating the movement of vehicles and personnel.
The Administration has described the launch as part of a broader attempt to improve service delivery under its Ease of Doing Business initiatives. The Port Pravesh platform is among the most expansive digital reforms undertaken by the PMB, given the number of stakeholders involved, ranging from fishermen, cargo handlers and contractors to government departments, transport operators and supply-chain agencies.
Port authorities have encouraged frequent users to adopt the system immediately, signalling that the transition away from manual processing will be swift. For those unfamiliar with digital applications, PMB and SOVTECH teams are expected to facilitate support, although the press release indicates that the online mode becomes effective with immediate effect. The shift is also expected to help security agencies maintain a digital trail of access patterns, a component that may be useful for emergency responses and operational audits.
Even as the launch marks a significant administrative shift, its real impact will unfold in the coming months as thousands of users migrate to the online format. For industrial stakeholders, the timing aligns with increased movement of cargo between the islands and the mainland, as well as seasonal surges in the transport of essential goods. For regular visitors and workers, the change promises time savings and reduced dependency on physical offices.
By digitising one of the most widely used public-facing functions within the maritime sector of the islands, the new system positions the PMB as one of the early port authorities in India to move fully online for entry-related services. Whether the system meets the expectations of speed, simplicity and transparency will likely become clear as the volume of applications rises. For now, port users are being ushered into a new phase of digital access that seeks to blend efficiency with enhanced security across all port points in the archipelago.
