Kandla Port, also known as Deendayal Port, is set for a major expansion to increase its capacity and improve operations. This aligns with India's "Make in India, Make for the World" vision.
Here's a simplified explanation:
Key Facts about Kandla Port:
Established: 1931.
Location: West Coast of India, in the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat.
Status: One of India's twelve major ports.
Serves: Northern states like Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Past Achievements: Ranked as India's top port for 14 years in a row and the first Indian port to handle 100 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in a single year (2016).
Current Status: Currently India's largest port by cargo volume.
What are the major investments? Over ₹57,000 crores (approximately $6.8 billion USD) will be invested, including:
₹30,000 crores for a Mega Shipbuilding Project.
₹27,000 crores for a new cargo terminal.
What will the Mega Shipbuilding Facility do?
Build Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) – huge oil tankers – up to 320,000 tonnes DWT (deadweight tonnage).
Build 32 new ships every year.
Repair 50 existing ships every year.
The facility will be huge (over 8,000 acres) and include a marina, fishing harbor, towns, and a marine industrial area.
What will the new cargo terminal do?
Add 135 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) of cargo capacity.
Handle dry bulk cargo.
Use modern cargo handling equipment.
Have better transportation systems to move cargo in and out of the port.
How will this affect liquid cargo (like oil)? Existing docks will be upgraded to handle liquid cargo better, which will speed up turnaround times for tankers. The new port's location will also reduce the need for dredging (digging up the seabed), allowing larger ships to dock.
What are the broader economic effects?
Create many new jobs, especially in related manufacturing and assembly industries.
Help India become more self-reliant ("Atmanirbhar Bharat") by 2047.
Key Terms/Acronyms:
VLCC: Very Large Crude Carrier.
MTPA: Million Tonnes Per Annum.
PPP: Public-Private Partnership.
TEU: Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (a standard unit for measuring container capacity).
SBM: Single Buoy Mooring.
What other projects are planned for Kandla Port?
A mega cargo terminal at Tuna Tekra (to handle 2.19 million TEUs).
A new Multi Cargo Terminal (to add 18.33 MTPA).
Three new oil docks.
A Ship Repair Facility (to increase liquid cargo handling by 34.5 MTPA).
In simple terms: Kandla Port is getting a huge upgrade with new shipbuilding facilities and a new cargo terminal.
This will allow the port to handle much more cargo, including very large oil tankers, and create many jobs. This is part of India's plan to boost its manufacturing and trade.