<h4 data-path-to-node="3"><b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="0">National Recognition for Operational Excellence</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="4"><b>GANDHIDHAM / MUMBAI</b> — The <b data-path-to-node="4" data-index-in-node="26">Deendayal Port Authority (DPA)</b>, operator of the vital Kandla gateway on India’s western coast, has been honored with the prestigious <b data-path-to-node="4" data-index-in-node="159">India Maritime Award 2026</b> in the <b data-path-to-node="4" data-index-in-node="192">"Best Port of the Year (Non-Containerised)"</b> category.</p><p data-path-to-node="5">The award was formally accepted by Ratna Sekhar Rao, Traffic Manager of DPA, during a high-profile industry ceremony organized by the <i data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="134">Daily Shipping Times</i> in Mumbai. The accolade highlights the port’s sustained operational excellence, exceptional volume throughput, and consistent turnaround speed across bulk, break-bulk, and liquid cargo segments.</p><h4 data-path-to-node="7"><b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="0">Historic Momentum &amp; Record-Breaking Benchmarks</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="8">The recognition follows a succession of major operational milestones achieved by the port authority during the current 2026–27 fiscal year:</p><ol start="1" data-path-to-node="9"><li><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Fastest to 50 MMT:</b> DPA Kandla recently scripted history by becoming the fastest among all Major Port Authorities across India to cross the <b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="139">50 Million Metric Tons (MMT)</b> cargo handling mark, reaching the threshold a remarkable 19 days ahead of the previous fiscal year's timeline.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Single-Day Volume Records:</b> The port recently established a new national record by handling <b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="91">783,816 metric tonnes</b> of cargo in a single 24-hour window, eclipsing its previous benchmark of 778,570 metric tonnes.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Vadinar Offshore Benchmark:</b> Concurrently, DPA’s Offshore Oil Terminal at Vadinar set a new standard in liquid bulk handling, moving <b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="132">509,101 metric tonnes</b> of petroleum and liquid cargo within a single day.</p></li></ol><h4 data-path-to-node="11"><b data-path-to-node="11" data-index-in-node="0">Ecosystem Collaboration and Leadership Perspective</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="12">Reacting to the national honor, DPA Chairman <b data-path-to-node="12" data-index-in-node="45">Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME</b>, dedicated the award to the collaborative effort of the entire maritime and logistics value chain operating within the port's jurisdiction.</p><blockquote data-path-to-node="13"><p data-path-to-node="13,0"><i data-path-to-node="13,0" data-index-in-node="0">"This recognition reflects the tireless dedication and synchronized efforts of our port users, trade unions, terminal operators, shipping lines, vessel agents, Customs House Agents, and our invaluable Shramiks,"</i> stated Singh. <i data-path-to-node="13,0" data-index-in-node="226">"Deendayal Port remains fully committed to driving efficiency, reducing vessel dwell times, and expanding our non-containerized logistics infrastructure to support India’s expanding foreign trade architecture."</i></p></blockquote>