<p data-path-to-node="5">Seeking to accelerate cargo evacuation and strengthen port-hinterland connectivity, the <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="104">Gujarat Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry (GCCI)</b> has submitted a detailed series of infrastructure proposals to <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="213">Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur</b>. The representation was submitted during the Minister’s recent operational review and stakeholder meeting at the <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="401">Deendayal Port Authority (DPA)</b> in Kandla.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">The industry chamber highlighted that while Deendayal Port continues to lead major state-run gateways in bulk cargo handling, targeted road, rail, and land infrastructure upgrades are urgently required to prevent logistics bottlenecks as cargo volumes scale.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="8"><b data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="0">Expressway Corridors, Dedicated Rail Spur Lines, and Warehousing Zones Anchor Chamber Demands</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="9">GCCI’s submission outlines critical interventions designed to optimize operational efficiency and cut transit turnaround times across the Kandla-Gandhidham maritime cluster:</p><ul data-path-to-node="10"><li><p data-path-to-node="10,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Direct Highway &amp; Expressway Feeder Links:</b> To relieve growing heavy-vehicle congestion on local port approach routes, GCCI urged the accelerated construction of multi-lane elevated corridors and dedicated freight bypasses connecting DPA directly to national highway networks and the upcoming Delhi–Mumbai Expressway.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Expanding Rail Evacuation Capacity:</b> The chamber called for doubling and electrifying key feeder railway tracks linking Kandla and Tuna-Tekra terminals to regional industrial hubs. Streamlining rail wagon allocations and integrating port siding operations with the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) were highlighted as essential steps to move heavy bulk and containerized cargo faster.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Port-Adjacent Warehousing &amp; Custom Enclosures:</b> Recognizing the need for modern logistics storage, the trade body proposed expanding bonded warehousing yards, temperature-controlled cold storage hubs, and dedicated container freight stations (CFS) near the port perimeter to support agricultural, chemical, and industrial EXIM trade.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,3,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Aligning with DPA's 50 MMT Cargo Surge:</b> The proposals come as Deendayal Port achieved its <b data-path-to-node="10,3,0" data-index-in-node="90">fastest-ever 50 Million Metric Tonne (MMT) cargo handling milestone</b> during the current fiscal year. Minister Thakur assured trade representatives that the Ministry will review the chamber’s recommendations to align regional port expansion with broader Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 targets.</p></li></ul>