Strategically located in the Gulf of Kutch along India’s western coastline, Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla stands out as one of the nation’s foremost maritime gateways. One among India’s 12 Major Ports and under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, Kandla has embarked on a major transformative journey marked by enhanced autonomy, modern governance and globally competitive operational efficiency. This transformation aligns with the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to position India’s maritime sector as a leader on the global map.
DPA’s performance in FY 2024–25 underscores its growing prominence in India’s port-led development story. The port achieved a historic milestone by handling 150.16 million metric tonnes of cargo, registering a 13 per cent year-on-year growth, the highest among all major ports in the country. This achievement reflects DPA’s operational excellence and its role in supporting India’s EXIM trade and industrial growth.
Backed by robust infrastructure spread across three locations, Tuna Tekra, Vadinar and Kandla, DPA offers a comprehensive maritime ecosystem comprising dry cargo berths, oil jetties, single buoy moorings and dry bulk terminals. State-of-the-art facilities and customer-friendly business processes enhance the port’s operational agility and make it a port of preference among the shipping fraternity. The port handles a diversified cargo basket including POL, fertilisers, coal, containers, timber, salt, iron ore, liquids and transshipment cargo.
Positioned as a catalyst of India’s Green Hydrogen Mission, Deendayal Port Authority has been nominated as a Green Hydrogen Hub under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Aligned with India’s net-zero commitments and the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, DPA is developing a comprehensive ecosystem for the production, storage and export of green hydrogen, its derivatives and green maritime fuels, paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable shipping future.
DPA is undertaking major capacity augmentation projects to be future-ready for handling the projected increase in cargo volumes. A modern, state-of-the-art container terminal with a capacity of 2.19 million TEUs is under construction at Tuna Tekra, while a new smart port using six kilometres of waterfront outside the Kandla creek is under the approval process. In addition, new terminals and oil jetties are under development, further augmenting port infrastructure. The port is also emerging as a promising hub for large-scale shipbuilding, ship repair and allied industries, reinforcing India’s aspirations under the Make in India and Make for the World initiatives.
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Emphasising this vision, Shri Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME, Chairman, Deendayal Port Authority, states: “Deendayal Port Authority is committed to transforming itself into a future-ready, green and smart port.
Our focus is not only on capacity expansion, but on building sustainable maritime ecosystems, including green hydrogen, green fuels, shipbuilding and smart logistics, that will power India’s economic growth for decades to come.”
