Kandla port in Gujarat resumes, after ceasing operations for 5 hrs

Deendayal Port in Kandla (file photo)
| Photo Credit:
AMIT DAVE

India’s leading major port, Kandla in Gujarat, resumed operations on Friday morning after it temporarily shutdown for five hours, official sources have confirmed.

Due to “heightened security concerns”, the port — located in the Gulf of Kutch and in close proximity to Pakistan — ceased operations from 1:30 am onwards, senior officials from Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) told businessline. 

Kandla, which handles both liquid and bulk cargo, and is one of the 12 major ports of India, also observed a blackout last night. “At present, the port is functioning with Level 2 security. But if we have to cease operations again, then vessel turn around times will shoot up,” the official added.

Meanwhile, Mundra Port, located in close proximity to Kandla in Gulf of Kutch, continued to function. When asked if the port ceased operations on Thursday night, a spokesperson of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone said, “We are complaint with all government instructions.”

Apart from important private ports at Mundra, Pipavav and Hazira, the State’s port infrastructure also has at least seven Single Point Moorings (SPMs) that handle crude oil at Gujarat’s ports like Kandla and Mundra. 

A SPM is a floating buoy anchored offshore to allow handling of liquid cargo such as petroleum products offloaded from tanker ships.

The cumulative crude oil handling capacity of these SPMs that form part of sensitive port infrastructure stand at 104 million metric tonne per year.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) said that the port and other related infrastructure that fall under its purview have been operating with increased security level. “The security level has been increased and all ports currently functional,” said a senior GMB official. 

Published on May 9, 2025