Kandla history

Founding and First Mentions

Unlike many ancient settlements in the region, modern Kandla owes its existence to the economic transformations of the mid-20th century. Although the convenient coves of the Gulf of Kutch were used by local fishermen and traders for centuries, the official history of the city as a strategic facility began in the 1950s. It was then that the Government of India selected this location for the construction of a new major port on the west coast, intended to become the new maritime gateway for the north-western part of the country.

Key Development Factors

The rapid development of Kandla from a small coastal tract into one of the state's leading ports was driven by a number of reasons:

• Unique Geography: The city is located in a natural sheltered harbour deep within the Gulf of Kutch. Natural conditions and deep-water areas allowed for the reception of ocean-going vessels year-round, which was critical for stable navigation.
• Logistical Necessity: After 1947, an acute need arose to redistribute cargo flows. Kandla was intended to relieve the port of Mumbai and ensure efficient supply to vast inland territories, including the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana.
• Political Will: The project was overseen at the highest level, and as early as 1955, Kandla received "Major Port" status, which opened access to significant government funding.

Early Economic Features

From its inception, the city was formed strictly as a business and industrial centre. A significant milestone in its history was the creation of Asia's first Export Processing Zone in 1965. This innovative decision defined the economic profile of the region: warehouse complexes, terminals for the transshipment of oil, grain, and salt, as well as associated transport infrastructure connecting the port with the rest of the continent, began to develop actively here.

Major Historical Milestones

• 1931: Maharao Khengarji III, the ruler of the Princely State of Cutch, built the first concrete jetty, marking the beginning of the history of shipping in this convenient natural bay.
• 1948: The West Coast Port Development Committee selected this site for the construction of a new strategic harbour for India.
• 1950: The country's Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, personally laid the foundation stone of the modern port of Kandla.
• 1955: The facility officially received "Major Port" status, becoming the sixth most important maritime hub in the state.
• 1957: Construction of the main cargo berths was completed, and large-tonnage ocean vessels began entering the harbour.
• 1965: The first Export Processing Zone in all of Asia was inaugurated in the city.
• 1998: A powerful cyclone caused serious damage to the infrastructure, which served as the impetus for subsequent large-scale modernization of protective structures.
• 2001: Despite a devastating earthquake in the state of Gujarat, the port managed to restore operations in the shortest possible time.
• 2017: Kandla Port was officially renamed "Deendayal Port Authority" in honour of an Indian thinker and politician.
• 2023: The port complex continued to break cargo turnover records, strengthening its position as one of the leading government ports in the country.

Stages of Transformation and Their Significance

The development of this strategic hub was not limited merely to the construction of berths. The history of the region is a series of large-scale changes that turned a desolate coast into a powerful industrial and logistics centre of India. Here are the key moments that defined the modern appearance of the city:

• Founding of the satellite city Gandhidham (1950s). Simultaneously with the port, the residential city of Gandhidham was built. This became a crucial urban planning and humanitarian project: the city provided a new home to thousands of settlers from Sindh, forming a unique cultural code of the region where traditions of different peoples intertwined.
• Creation of the first Free Trade Zone (KASEZ). The opening of Asia's first export processing zone in 1965 was an economic breakthrough. This decision transformed Kandla from a simple transit point into a centre of international manufacturing, attracted foreign investment, and created thousands of jobs.
• Formation of the "Salt Capital". Thanks to the unique natural conditions of the Gulf of Kutch, the city became a centre for salt extraction and export. The development of the salt and chemical industries formed a powerful production cluster around the port, which today plays a key role in the state's economy.
• Integration with the Northern Railway Network. The laying of a broad-gauge railway line connected the port with remote states (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan). This turned the city into the main maritime gateway for all of North-West India, ensuring a stable flow of grain, oil, and fertilizers.
• Post-crisis Architectural Renovation. Reconstruction after the 2001 earthquake was carried out according to new, strict seismic standards. This radically changed the urban planning approach: old buildings were replaced by modern stable structures, and the port infrastructure was completely modernized.
• Course towards "Green Energy". In recent years, the port has been actively implementing renewable energy projects, including the construction of solar and wind power plants. This transition marks a new stage of development — from heavy industry to environmentally responsible management.

Urban Planning Features and Layout

The architectural appearance of such an industrial centre as Kandla differs radically from the ancient cities of the region. Here you will not find winding medieval streets or opulent palaces of Maharajas. This is a vivid example of strict functionalism and planned development of the mid-20th century. The city developed in close conjunction with its residential satellite, Gandhidham, and their structure is completely subordinate to the main goal — efficient service of the port and logistics. The streets are designed to be wide and straight, forming a clear grid, which is characteristic of settlements created "from scratch" by master planners.

Architectural Styles and Eras

In the development of the region, two key periods can be distinguished, each of which formed the current look of the city:

• Post-colonial Modernism (1950–1990s): The formative period. Administrative buildings of the Port Authority (Deendayal Port Authority) and old residential quarters are executed in the style of restrained modernism. They are characterized by simple geometric shapes, abundant use of concrete, flat roofs, and a complete absence of decoration. This is "honest" architecture, reflecting the spirit of industrialization of young India.
• Modern Seismic-Resistant Architecture (since 2001): After the destructive earthquake, the approach to construction changed radically. New terminals, office centres, and warehouses are erected using reinforced steel frames and lightweight structures. The style shifted towards industrial high-tech and utilitarian minimalism, where safety and technological advancement became the main criteria.

Iconic Elements of the Urban Environment

The dominant features of the local landscape are not classic monuments, but structures that form a unique "industrial aesthetic":

• Port Zone: Giant port cranes, high-rise grain elevators, and endless rows of containers create a massive panorama that impresses with its technogenic power, especially at sunset.
• Tank Farms: Massive white oil storage tanks and dome-shaped warehouses for bulk cargo serve as the main visual landmarks in the area, replacing the towers or spires familiar to tourists.

Notable Figures

The development of the city of Kandla as a strategic hub is inextricably linked with the names of visionary rulers, state leaders, and public figures who turned a desert coast into the economic locomotive of western India.

• Maharao Khengarji III — Ruler of the Princely State of Cutch (1875–1942).
  A pioneer of local infrastructure development. It was he who first appreciated the potential of the natural bay and built the first concrete jetty here in the early 1930s, laying the foundation for the future sea port.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — First Deputy Prime Minister of India.
  The main ideologue behind the construction of the new port. After the partition of the country and the loss of the port of Karachi, he insisted on the urgent creation of an alternative maritime gateway on the west coast to ensure the state's economic security.
• Kasturbhai Lalbhai — Industrialist and Philanthropist.
  Chairman of the government committee which conducted thorough coastal surveys in 1948. It was his committee that recommended choosing Kandla Bay as the ideal location for building a deep-water port.
• Jawaharlal Nehru — First Prime Minister of India.
  Personally oversaw the project at the federal level. In 1950, he laid the foundation stone of the port, giving the construction the status of a national priority.
• Bhai Pratap — Public Figure and Urban Planner.
  Founder of the satellite city Gandhidham. He organized the resettlement of thousands of refugees from Sindh, providing them with housing and work. Thanks to his efforts, the port received the necessary human resources and became the centre of a new multicultural community.
• Lal Bahadur Shastri — Second Prime Minister of India.
  In 1965, he solemnly inaugurated the first Export Processing Zone (KASEZ) in Asia at Kandla. This decision became a turning point, transforming the city from a transport hub into a major industrial centre.
• Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya — Philosopher and Political Thinker.
  An outstanding ideologue whose name the port bears today. In 2017, in honour of the centenary of his birth, Kandla Port was officially renamed "Deendayal Port Authority", underscoring its national significance.