Kandla Port rechristened as 'Deendayal Port'

New Delhi: The Kandla Port, one of the top 12 major ports in the country, has been rechristened as Deendayal Port from on Monday in the name of Hindutva icon Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.

"Kandla Port Trust is renamed as Deendayal Port Trust with effect from September 25, 2017," the government said on Monday.

The central government in exercise of powers conferred on it under Indian Ports Act, 1908 made the amendment to replace "Kandla" with "Deendayal", as per a notification issued by the Ministry of Shipping.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier this year, while laying foundation stone for Rs 933 crore projects at Kandla Port had suggested that it be named after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, who stood for the uplift of all sections of the society.

"Deendayal stood for the poor...(so this name change) will inspire us to work for the poor, suppressed section of the society," he had said.

The port's journey began in 1931 with construction of a Jetty by Maharao Khengarji. Gradually this port in Gujarat became the number one port in India and on March 31, 2016 it created history by handling 100 million tonnes cargo in a year - the first Major Port to achieve the milestone.

Located on the Gulf of Kutch, it is one of major ports on west coast. It is the largest port of India by volume of cargo handled.