Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for various capacity augmentation projects at Deendayal Port (DPT) at Kandla. 

 

The projects include: Two dome shaped godowns which will increase the covered storage capacity by 1.45 lakh metric tonnes at a cost of Rs. 36 crore; Oil Jetty No. 8 at Old Kandla at a cost of Rs. 99 crore and increase the optimal capacity of Port by 3.50 MMTPA and reduce the waiting period turnaround time of vessels; Parking Plaza for Trucks/Vehicles with ancillary facilities like canteen, garage, rest shelter, etc. being developed for pre-gate verification of documents to ease congestion of vehicles at the gates corresponding with digital initiatives like EBS & RFID being installed at these gates at a cost of Rs. 14.59 crore. 

 

Modernization of the existing pipeline network at a cost of Rs. 126.50 crore has also been taken up for operational efficiency and to improve handling capacity of edible oil and chemicals at the Port. The project will increase the optimal capacity from 8 MMTPA to 23.8 MMTPA.

 

The minister inspected the progress of ongoing work Road-over-bridge at LC-236, Kandla being executed by IPRCL. Sonowal also inaugurated the "Aayush Van" at DPT’s Rotary Forest for nurturing various ayurvedic plants. 

 

Sarbananda Sonowal inspected the Navigational Channel, Waterfront and Port Facilities, Railway Sidings and visited the entire wharf area upto Cargo Jetty No. 16 in order to have an overview of the developmental works taken up by DPT.

 

Sonowal also visited KICT Container Terminal at DPT’s Berth No. 11 & 12 and witnessed the mechanized handling of containers and stacking yard. He also visited MCC, Kandla and inspected the Operational Room and Tower of VTS-Gulf of Kutch during his interactive meeting with the officials of DGLL and stakeholders.