KANDLA : On the occasion of 66th Independence Day, the National flag was unfurled by Dr. P. D. Vaghela, IAS, Chairman, Kandla Port Trust at the oval ground of Gopalpuri, Gandhidham and at Bharatiya Vidhya Mandir Schools, Kandla as well.
Dr. Vaghela conveyed his best wishes to Kandla Pariwar on this auspicious occasion. While addressing, Dr. Vaghela referred to the sacrifice made by the great Indian freedom fighters who had laid down their lives for attaining freedom for the country. He further stated that Kandla Port has pledged to contribute in the development of the nation. Kandla plays a major role in the country's development particularly the shipping fraternity.
He stated that the Port has registered an envious growth during the fiscal 2012-13 in the cargo handling. Over the years, the Port of Kandla has been registering excellent performance in cargo handling, faster turn-round of ships, berth productivity, etc. in cargo handling, for the past consecutive three years, the Port of Kandla remained firmly in the distinguished category of 82 million metric tonnes, improving its own position year after year. The Port has handled a whopping volume of 82.5 million metric tonnes of cargo, from 2710 ships, during the year 2011-12 as its share in the total tonnage handled altogether by the 12 Major Ports of the country. The Port is also identified as the best port by the Government of India for handling Food Grains and Fertilizers cargo. He added, Kandla Port has maintained No. 1 position during the first Quarter of 2012-2013. During the first quarter of the current fiscal, i.e. 2012-13, the Port reached the foremost position among Indian Major Ports in terms of volume of traffic handled.
Dr. Vaghela also mentioned about the recent developments which have taken place at the Port and its future plans specifically the development of Green-field Satellite Port at Tuna, Dedicated Barge Handling Facilities, Port Based Special Economic Zone etc. He further added that Liberal privatization drive adopted by the Port of Kandla since 1991 has been recognized as bench-mark for privatization process in the entire Port Sector in the country. The initiative taken a years back by the Kandla Port Trust in attracting private participation for development of Liquid Tankage Facility for storing liquid cargoes has been quite encouraging.
In consonance with its position as the Port of the New Millennium, the Major Port of Kandla is all set to be a Global Logistics Hub in the near future. In the next coming years, the projection is to handle 100 million tonnes of cargo.
Further he added, a vision for tomorrow, the Indian Maritime Sector was not reckoned earlier, but today it has emerged as one of the key Sectors of national economy. In the fiscal year of 2012-13, the country's all twelve major ports handled a whopping cargo, registering a tremendous growth in the Ports Sector. The country is now attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and many a port is availing this facility for being developed as ultra modern terminals. Kandla Port also has invited foreign direct investment for the development of the Kandla Port and allied facilities.
The Major Port of Kandla, therefore, extends a cordial invitation to all the formidable Principal Importers and Exporters for a visit to it, to see for themselves its state of affairs, fathomless opportunities available with it and to enlighten themselves with the merits and advantages of making use of its excellent services and facilities for carrying out their international maritime trade and to be an integral part of Kandla , an upcoming Global Logistics Hub Port.
He also sought utmost cooperation from the employees, officers and Port users for the significant development of the Port.
Dr. P.D. Vaghela expressed his team's commitment towards whole hearted contribution for rapid progression of the Port and making a name in the International Maritime fraternity. Kandla Port Trust also aims to excel all other Major Ports in the area of socio-economic welfare measures alongwith the CSR.
The Independence Day function was attended by Shri A. Ramakrishna, FA&CAO, Capt. H.K. Sibal, Shri H.C. Venkatesh, Shri Bhagat, Commandant, CISF, Mr. Khimji Maheshwari, Mr. Ajay Gupta, DD(EDP), Mohd. Feroz Hussain, Deputy Secretary, Trustees, Port Users, Office bearers of Kandla Port Unions and the KPT staff members along with their families.
