Kandla Port Wins Major Port of the Year Award at MALA 2013

Kandla Port Trust (KPT) has a prominent winner at the prestigious Maritime and Logistics Awards (MALA) – 2013, organized by Exim India, on the evening of Friday the 6th September 2013, consequently fourth time in a row.

The Kandla Port has adjudged the Major Port of the Year over the other Indian Major Ports. The nominees were Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Chennai Port Trust Port Trust and Kandla Port Trust.

Dr. PD Vaghela,IAS, Chairman, KPT, had received the award trophy and certificate from Mr Marc Van Peel, President of Port of Antwerp and Member of Parliament of Belgium , in a gala function held at Mumbai. The award was also announced by Mr Marc Van Peel, Chairman of the Port of Antwerp. The function was also witnessed by Mr. Sanjay Bhaty, Incharge-BDC of Kandla Port Trust.

The awards were chosen by a distinguished jury, headed by MR. PN Roychodhury, former Additional Chief Secretary of Government of Gujarat and comprising of stalwarts of the Shipping industry’s including Mr. Hegde, Director of alcargo.

Kandla Port retains its glory and Number – 1 position for the fifth year in a row by crossing the Ministry’s cargo handling target of 89.00 Million Metric Tons mark during the fiscal 2012-13 and Creates National History in Cargo Handling by attaining 93.63 Million Metric Tons mark, 13% increase over the last year’s traffic of 82.501 MMT. There is an increase of 11.12 MMTs. The Port’s throughput was impressive, considering the fact that the Port utilized more than its total cargo handling capacity of 92.02 MMT and the fact that all major ports together has registered a minus growth rate of (-) 2.58%. The performance is hence more commendable as it came despite continuing impact of Global economic recession and Industrial slowdown in the country’s economy.

The Kandla Port Trust and Mr. PD Vaghela, Chairman, KPT, feels proud of these achievements and take this opportunity to extend sincere thanks to the Trade of India, highly innovative Port Users, the ever friendly media, Trustees and the dedicated workforce and their union leaders for their unrelenting support, co-operation and appreciation without which the Port could not have attained the position it holds in the Indian Port Sector today.

Amongst the twelve Major Ports in the country, Kandla occupies an enviable position, both in terms of International Maritime Trade tonnage handled and financial stability and self-sufficiency attained year after year.

Kandla – A gate-way to the north-western part of India consisting of a vast hinterland of 1 million sq. kms. Stretched throughout 9 States from Gujarat to Jammu & Kashmir, the Kandla Port has a unique locational advantage. The Port’s hinterland is well connected with infrastructural net-work of Broad Gauge railway systems as well as States and National Highways.

Kandla Port has emerged as NUMERO UNO amongst all the Major Ports in India., in recent years. It has achieved several milestones and is still heading towards achieving new records. For development and modernization of Port Infrastructure, Kandla Port has embarked upon to Set up a Mega state-of-art Container Terminal at Tuna- Tekra, in Gulf of Kutch out side Kandla Creek on BOT Basis under PPP Mode at an estimated cost of Rs 5992 cr for handling containerized cargo through deep draughted vessels. The Tuna-Tekra area is about 10 kms on south of existing Tuna Port, which is well connected with existing National Highway 8 A through two lane wide road connectivity, which will be widened to six lane in phased manner. Within next one year, the Tuna Port will also be provided with Broad Gauge rail connectivity, for which Western Railway Authorities has already been awarded the Project.

Further, in the last 4 years, Kandla Port has taken major development which are noteworthy for any Government Port.

1. Kandla Port has added 30 million cargo handling in the last 4 years which is 44% jump which is one of the highest amongst all the Major Ports of India.
2. Kandla Port has increased its Customs Bound area from 66 hectares to 140 hectares thereby increasing the existing storage area by 112%.
3. In the last 4 years Kandla has increased covered godown capacity from 3.58,000 tonnes to 6,47,000 tonnes i.e. 80% increase in just 4 years.
4. Same way internal Railway lines of Kandla Port have increased from 13 kilometers to 20 kilometers. Thus increase than more than 50%. If you consider 22 kms. Railway line under construction, the increase will be 223%.
5. Also when it comes to navigation Kandla Port has added 6 Floating Tugs to existing 7 tugs (more than 50%) mooring launches from 6 to 10, 4 mobile cranes have been added to existing 12 cranes (33%).

Thus, Port of Kandla is all set and committed to fulfill its vision to be a Global Logistic Hub in the Asian continent.

[mappress]

Kandla Port, September 9, 2013