What Happened
- Deendayal Port Authority (formerly Kandla Port), Gujarat, achieved a historic milestone by handling over 150 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in financial year 2024-25, with 18 days still remaining in the fiscal year — making it the fastest Indian major port ever to reach 150 MMT.
- The Port handled 150.16 MMT during FY 2024-25, a record that eclipses all previous benchmarks set by Indian major ports.
- Port Chairman held a trade meet with stakeholders to mark the achievement and announced an ambitious target of 170 MMT for the next fiscal year.
- The milestone underscores Deendayal Port's strategic importance as India's gateway for bulk cargo trade, particularly petroleum products, coal, and fertilisers imported for the hinterland of northwestern India.
- Despite ranking 2nd among major ports in FY 2024-25 (after previously holding the No. 1 position for 16 consecutive years), the 150 MMT milestone demonstrates continued expansion of India's western seaboard trade.
Static Topic Bridges
Major Ports in India and the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021
India has 13 Major Ports governed by the Central Government under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, which replaced the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. Major ports handle over 60% of India's total port traffic. The shift from "Trust" to "Authority" governance model under the 2021 Act granted Major Ports greater operational autonomy, financial independence, and flexibility in fixing tariffs — key reforms to modernise port management. The remaining hundreds of non-major ports are administered by State Governments.
- 13 Major Ports: Deendayal (Kandla), JNPA (Mumbai), Mumbai, Mormugao (Goa), New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (Ennore), V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin), Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Kolkata (including Haldia), and Syama Prasad Mookerjee (Kolkata).
- Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 replaced 1963 Act; gave ports independent Board of Port Authority with greater powers.
- Sagarmala Programme (2015) aims to modernise and develop port infrastructure, port-led industrialisation, and coastal community development.
- Port development is part of the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
Connection to this news: The 150 MMT milestone demonstrates the success of port modernisation policies under the Sagarmala Programme and the enhanced autonomy provided by the 2021 Act.
Deendayal Port Authority — History, Location, and Strategic Significance
Kandla Port was constructed in the 1950s to replace Karachi Port (which went to Pakistan after Partition) as the chief western seaport serving India. Located on the Gulf of Kutch in Kutch District, Gujarat, the port is approximately 430 nautical miles north-northwest of Mumbai. It was renamed Deendayal Port Trust in September 2017 (honouring Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya) and became Deendayal Port Authority in November 2021 under the new Act. Kandla was India's first special economic zone (SEZ), established in 1965 — now Deendayal Port Trade Zone (DPTZ).
- Port infrastructure spans three locations: Kandla Creek, Tuna Tekra, and Vadinar, with 35 berths total.
- Hinterland: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh — landlocked states depend heavily on Deendayal Port.
- Primary cargo: crude oil and petroleum products (~35-40%), followed by fertilisers, coal, food grains, and chemicals.
- Deendayal Port was the first Indian major port to cross 100 MMT in a single year (FY 2015-16).
- The port held No. 1 position among Indian major ports for 16 consecutive years before recently being surpassed.
Connection to this news: The 150 MMT achievement reflects the expanding trade flows through India's northwestern gateway, driven by rising energy imports, fertiliser needs, and growing consumer goods trade.
India's Maritime Trade and the Sagarmala Programme
India's 7,500+ km coastline and 200 nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) give it significant maritime potential. About 95% of India's trade by volume and 70% by value is carried by sea. The Sagarmala Programme, launched in 2015 under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, envisions port-led development: modernising ports, developing coastal shipping, enabling port-led industrialisation through Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs), and improving connectivity through road-rail-port linkages.
- India's total port capacity target under NIP: 1,600–2,000 MMT by 2025.
- India has 13 major ports + approximately 200 non-major ports (State Government jurisdiction).
- Coastal Shipping Policy (2021) aims to shift freight from road to sea — more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly.
- Blue Economy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine highlight India's maritime ambitions.
- India's shipping fleet: ranks among top 20 globally; government targets to expand tonnage under the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy.
Connection to this news: Deendayal Port's record cargo handling is a direct data point on the health and growth of India's overall maritime trade infrastructure.
Key Facts & Data
- Deendayal Port (Kandla) cargo FY 2024-25: 150.16 MMT — fastest Indian port to cross 150 MMT
- Next year target set by port management: 170 MMT
- Location: Gulf of Kutch, Kutch District, Gujarat
- First Indian major port to handle 100 MMT in a single year: FY 2015-16 (Deendayal)
- Total berths at Deendayal: 35 (at Kandla Creek, Tuna Tekra, Vadinar)
- India's 13 Major Ports governed by: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- Major Port Authorities Act 2021: replaced Major Port Trusts Act 1963
- Kandla SEZ: established 1965 — India's first special economic zone
- Port renamed to Deendayal Port Trust: September 2017; to Deendayal Port Authority: November 2021
- India's seaborne trade: ~95% of trade by volume, ~70% by value