It’s no secret that the key to a successful and burgeoning economy is a reliable and effective import/export infrastructure and that’s where India appears to have a global edge. The Deendayal Port Trust is leading the way in terms of volume cargo handling and expansion, which is why Endeavour Magazine decided to find out more.
Dating back to 1931, when it was a mere jetty, the Deendayal Port is a project steeped in maritime history and traditions, but don’t for one second assume that it is stuck in the past. Far from it in fact, as the port has consistently grown, developed and accounted for diversified needs and challenges in a bid to demonstrate an innovative, not to mention intuitive, approach to essential infrastructure design.
Now officially recognised as the number one port in India, a title held for a spectacularly impressive nine years, the Deendayal Port Trust benefits from a convenient placement, as well as a visionary management team and combined, these elements have led to phenomenal success. What’s more, there is no sign of things slowing down.
Boasting an infinitely convenient location, the Deendayal Port Trust is “…a seaport in the Kutch District of Gujarat state, in western India, near the city of Gandhidham. The port was constructed in the 1950s as the chief seaport serving western India, after the partition of India from Pakistan left the port of Karachi in Pakistan. Today, it is the largest port of India, by volume of cargo handled.”
Born out of a necessity for additional port services after the partition of India from Pakistan, the Deendayal Port Trust has always had a facet of necessity at its core, which is still being built upon now, but we’ll come to future developments in due course. It’s safe to say that whatever is being planned, the site will definitely be able to handle any increase in cargo handling, as it is already coping magnificently with just shy of 73 million tonnes per annum.
Aiming to be one of the most economical and contemporary ports in the world, while maintaining a steely focus on offering clients cost-effective services and solutions, the team at the Deendayal Port Trust are beholden to a clear and defined mission statement that adequately sums up everything the enterprise really stands for: “Deendayal Port will emerge as a vibrant, world-class, multi-cargo port offering services at multiple locations and having a dominant share of regional cargo by virtue of its ability to effectively leverage its locations and land resources for facilitation of the growth of economic activities and investments, with the objective of developing mutually beneficial and sustainable linkages with port based industries and users, thereby making Deendayal the driver of economic growth in the region.”
Aligning beautifully with this ultimate end goal are the key objectives of the Trust, which are refreshingly sustainable and responsible. It will come as no surprise that eco initiatives and ethical practices are becoming ever more essential in big business, but who could have ever predicted that a busy port would be leading the charge?
Determined to not only satisfy clients in terms of costs and standards, but also timeframes, there are many new practices being implemented by the management team at the Deendayal Port Trust, all of which are proving beneficial for the wider community. ‘Peaceful industrial relations’ are listed amongst the most vital outcomes, alongside social development and environmentally friendly innovations and given that a period of growth is being embarked upon, there’s a lot to be excited about.
Already offering a great swathe of port services, Deendayal is set to expand, in a bid to further meet the needs of both existing and potential new clients. With steadfast storage, dry dock and clearance facilities already helping to carve an enviably admired global name for the trust, the new strategies look set to really set it in stone.
In the short-term, there are numerous small improvements being made to retain all current clients and cargo contracts. With this in mind, cost-efficiency is of the utmost importance, as is a pro-active marketing strategy. Some modernisation of the rail network will certainly help to keep things moving, both literally and metaphorically too, but it’s the medium and long-term plans that really promise to bring the Deendayal Port Trust into a whole new era:
“The long-term strategy of the port will be to offer adequate infrastructure and competitive tariffs, through additional infrastructure developments, deepening the channel to handle vessels up to 14 metres, the installation of Eight ELL cranes of 20/25 tonnes capacity and more.”
The team went on to reveal, “Although officials declined to elaborate, given the on-going election code of conduct, it is reliably learnt that the port will soon initiate the process of 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-metre draft, capable of handling 75,000 dwt vessels. The port has already received encouraging responses, from prospective bidders, for the project, which is estimated to cost nearly 5,000 million INR”
There are few things that can compete with a dynamic schedule of development, but Deendayal has more than a good reputation and potential growth to rely on, when trying to welcome new clients into the fold. A transparent pricing schedule, free storage facilities, complimentary fire-fighting services and extensive specialist equipment all add to an already impressive bill of services and will only continue to keep making a positive impression as the site grows.
Able to demonstrate year-on-year financial performance improvements, a clear commitment to operating within a sustainable and responsible framework and with the best interests and satisfaction of clients always at the core of every endeavour, the Deendayal Port Trust is a name to cast to memory. We will be sure to revisit this enterprising organisation again and look forward to reporting on how the new developments and expansion plans have impacted on the team.
