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Kandla is a census town in the Kutch district of Gujarat state in Western India, near the city of Gandhidham. It occupies on the coast of Gulf of Cutch along the banks of the Kandla Creek. According to the 2011 Census of India, Kandla is the census town in India with more than 15 thousand inhabitants within the urban area. Located on the banks of Kandla Creek, it is home to Kandla Port, one of the major ports of India on the west coast. The entire economic activity of the city is centered on the port. Kandla known as India's hub for exporting grains and importing oil.

Demographics

Consequently, the population increased by 0.72%, from 14,695 as of 2001 census to 15,782 as of 2011 census. As of 2011, the population density is 5,314/km2 and there are a total of 3,574 families residing in the Kandla. There are 9,028 male and 6,754 female citizens—a sex ratio of 748 females per 1000 males, lower than the national average of 926 per 1000. Among children aged 0–6 years, 1,323 are boys and 831 are girls—a ratio of 942 per 1000. Literacy stands at 51.5% (male 61.92%; female 37.24%), lower than the national average of 74.04%.

Religion

Economy

The Port of Kandla Special Economic Zone (KASEZ) at Kandla was the first special economic zone to be established in India and in Asia. Established in 1965, the Port of Kandla SEZ is the biggest multiple-product SEZ in the country. Kandla is the first Export Processing Zone in India. Covering over 310 hectares, the special economic zone is just nine kilometers from the Port of Kandla. Today, Port of the town is India's hub for exporting grains and importing oil and one of the highest-earning ports in the country. Major imports entering the Port of Kandla are petroleum, chemicals, and iron and steel and iron machinery, but it also handles salt, textiles, and grain. The town has grown up base on the port with a school and hotel etc.

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Expansion

The port will soon begin selecting developers for four clean cargo berths that together aim to handle 8 million tonnes of cargo. The four berths will be supported by a 14 m draft capable of handling 75,000 dwt vessels. The port has already received encouraging response from prospective bidders, for the project that is estimated to cost nearly ₹500 crore.

KPT is also moving towards building dedicated container handling capacity. There is currently one container terminal that is under private operation by J M BAXY group . The port trust's plans include setting up a dedicated container terminal with two berths (No.11 and No.12 of the port) on BOT basis. The ₹330 crore project is expected to annually handle 6 lakh containers.

The clean cargo and container berths form only a small part of KPT's expansion plans through private enterprise. Other aspects include berthing facilities off Tekra (Tuna) that is expected to boost cargo by 1.2 crore (12 million) tonnes, an offshore liquid terminal, bunkering facilities and a ship repair and building yard.

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References

  • Deendayal Port Trust Official Website
  • Kandla Special Economic Zone, Website of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Commerce
  • Official website of Kandla Special Economic Zone