Railway Transport

Indian Railways is acknowledged as one of the major railway systems of the world and has played a key role in the economic growth of the country after independence. It is the 2nd largest Railway system in the world and has made large contribution in unifying the diverse and far flung regions of the country.

Importance of the entire Kutch area received tremendous impetus after partition in 1947 when Karachi Port went to Pakistan. Because of the geographical contiguity and devloping Kandla Port to serve as hinterland of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh, the Railway Board, was asked to provide rail connectivity to Kandla.
For the first time after independence a private Broad Guage link between Adipur and Mundra Port, of Gujarat Adani Port Ltd., was commissioned and opened for goods traffic from 15/11/2001 adding a new chapter in the transport system of Indian Railways, providing for better and additional transport facilities to the importers and exporters at Mundra Port.

During 2002-2003, Railways have handle 54% of export traffic of Kandla port, 75% of import traffic of Mundra port. Besides, about 95% of total production of fertilizer of IFFCO, has been carried by Indian Railways.

SHIPPING SERVICES : (BULK AND CONTAINRISED CARGO SERVICES)
The Kandla Port has adjudged the Major Port of the Year over the other Indian Major Ports.  The nominees were Chennai Port Trust,  Visakhapatnam Port Trust and Kandla Port Trust.

The Port had created National history by handling a whopping cargo of 81.88 MMT in the year 2010-2011.  The Port has an impressive track record of contributing significantly to the country’s international maritime trade over fifty years. The year 2010-11 is a golden phase in the life of the Port of Kandla, as envious developmental programmes have also been taken up. Scores of records have been created in cargo handling operations.  The performance was even more commendable as it came up despite continuing impact of economic recession and Industrial slowdown in the Country’s economy during the last fiscal.

BG LOADING :
BG commodity wise loading from Gandhidham area consisted of mainly Fertilizers (IFFCO), salt and coal. There was a drop in loading of salt in the year 2002-03 by about 30% due to hike in Railway freight tariff announced by Railways. This is effected to pickup soon in view of reduction [of 10-25%] in freight tariff announced by railways.

The IFFCO has been on top of the table in highest loading in Gandhidham area during2002-03, followed’byMundra Port. In terms of over all traffic handling by a single loading / unloading point, Gandhidham Goods shed has topped the table followed by IFFCO in average per day handling of wagon units during the financial tear 2002-03

HANDLING CAPACITY :
The Gandhidham area has very high rake handling capacity of about 28 rakes per day, which is equivalent to about 65- 70 thousand MT including about 21 thousand MTofPOL rake handling. The station wise rake handling capacity of Gandhidham sub-division is shown below:

PERFORMANCE RECORDS :

The Railway System in Gandhidham area has vast infrastructure and fully equipped to cater to the traffic demands of this area comfortably. The conversion ofPalanpur-Samakhiali & Bhildi-Samdari-Luni links will further add to the potential capacity of this system.

Road Transport & Roads

Road transport always has its stake in the developments of nation. The survival of society in general and Business & Industries in particular, has large dependence on road transport. The port of Kandla, during last 3 years has handled an average of about 38.36 million tones of cargo per annum. The road transport’s off take / handling has been to the extent of little over 50% of the total cargo handling of port of Kandla.

This shows the vital importance of road transport for port’s survival. Port’s operations cannot be thought of without road transport in place. The growth of port of Kandla, Kandla Special Economic Zone, IFFCO, various other trades like salt, minerals, Timber and allied Industries, mines etc. have been instrumental in phenomenal increase in the road transport business of this area.

The entire fleet in the area would be little over 35000 heavy Vehicles that includes all kinds of trucks, dumpers, trailers, oil tankers etc. Road transport industry in Gandhidham-Kandla provides jobs to some 3-4 lakh persons, directly & indirectly. The total investments would be to the tune of rupees 1200 Cr.

The road transport handles almost all kinds of commodities and operates within the area and across the country. The road transport has been able to attract some of the High Profit Yielding commodities, which earlier used to be carried by rail like Iron Scrap, Industrial salt, Petroleum Products etc. due to competitive freight structure, reliability and reduced transit time.

Roadways
The Govt’s policies of up gradation of high ways have further boosted the growth of road transport industry. Gandhidham is connected to other parts of country by state high ways 56 & 6 and by National Highway 8A. The latest Technology, machines and construction techniques have provided quality roadways. This has led to increase in safety element and operational efficiency. A considerable reduction in transit time has cut the fuel consumption, which is the need of the hour.

STORAGE

LIQUID:

Storage installations in Kandla are providing facilities to import / export bulk liquid cargo from all parts of world. Starting with low capacity, these terminals have grown bigger in capacity to cater to the growing needs of international business. Business establishments spread all over India, in far north up to Jammu & Kashmir and in far east up to Kolkatta, are taking services of these installations regularly for import / export of their liquid cargo. Kandla Port Trust has provided land on lease to construct the liquid terminals.

Necessary clearance from different statutory bodies like Chief Controller of Explosives, Customs, Gujarat Pollution Control Board etc. is obtained and all prescribed safety parameters are observed strictly to maintain high degree of safety levels at all time.

The Gandhidham-Kandla Complex has a vast storage capacity of liquid cargo. Both, PSUs and private sectors have been playing their parts in providing for the storage facilities of liquid cargo. Almost all kinds of liquid petroleum products and edible oils are handled by these installations safely and efficiently viz. Kerosene, Petrol, Diesel, Furnace Oil, Low Aromatic Naphtha, Air Turbine fuel, edible oils, LPG, Butadiene, etc.

The major PSUs in the handling of petroleum products in the area have been Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd; Hindustan Petroleum Corporation.

DRY CARGO STORAGE

The storage facilities for dry cargo are enormous in the private area of Gandhidham-Kandla complex, both covered and open spaces to lend ample backup support for trade activities inside and out side the port of Kandla. This has been very helpful in making the port related operations efficient & economic, as well.

OPEN SPACE STORAGE

The open space in Gandhidham – Kandla complex has been a big boost to the growth of many industries, particularly the Timber Industry. A huge open space is being utilized by industries in Gandhidham and areas around this town. Still, a lot of land for use as Open Storage is available in the Gandhidham. Though exact data are not available of the land area being used as ‘open space’, but the available data suggest some 500 acres of land space in Gandhidham area alone is in use as “open space’ by industries with more than what has been utilized, available for use in the vicinity.

So, the total covered & Open space put together, inside and out side the port oj Kandla, would show enormous storage capacity available in the area to lend vital backup support to the port operations and other trade activities in making the port of Kandla, one of “the most efficient & economic” ports of India. Also, the trade has been benefited immensely by flawless trade activities being carried out in all sectors with this huge volume of storage capacity at trade’s disposal.

BANKING & FINANCE

BANKS:
The Gandhidham-Kandla Complex has become a key center of commem activities in recent years. In order to run the trade and industry in an efficie manner and to safe guard the trade / industry from any damages, the role of banks and financial institutions becomes very crucial and important.

The bankking facilities in the area have seen vast expansions and improvements during last. years. In terms of number, it has grown from 12 in 1962 to over 183 including 1: schedule banks in the district. The branches of all schedule banks and those of othr banks like co-operative, gramin, private etc are operating in the district with all kinds of facilities available for the users.

While commercial schedule banks have been doing pretty well in the area, the eminent private banks like HDFC, ICICI, Gandhidham Co – operative bank, Bhuj Mercantile bank etc have been sharing considerably large responsibility of extending much needed banking services to the trade of this area.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Besides, financial institutions like Gujarat State Financial Corporation, Gujarat Industrial Investment Corporation Ltd etc. have played important role in rapid economic development of this area. These institutions have done well in the field of finance of new and for expansion of projects in the complex. The Small Industries Development Bank Of India was set up for promotion, financing and developmen small scale industries and for coordinating the functions of other institute engaged in the similar activities.

Gujarat State Finance Corporation has been extending financial assistance small-scale industrial units, small road transport operators by way of “refinance” The institution has been rendering services mainly in the following areas: –

1. Pre-Shipment Credit in Foreign Currency Scheme (PCFC)
2. Technology development & Modernization Fund Scheme (TDMF)
3. Scheme for Acquisition Of ISO 9000 Certificate
4. Marketing Scheme
5. Project Finance Scheme (PFS)
6. Equipment Finance Scheme (EPS)

The area, thus, has all the banks and financial institutions at the service of all kinds of customers. May’it be a service class person, trade and business, new entrepreneur – all find these banks and financial institutions to be ready to provide not only financial help but other assistance, too, like technical assistance, assistance related to import export, refinancing, marketing, project etc. This is proving to be great boost to the trade & business & toa common man as well.