Kandla port in Gujarat resumes, after ceasing operations for 5 hours

India’s key maritime hub, Kandla Port in Gujarat, resumed full operations on Friday morning after a temporary five-hour shutdown prompted by heightened security concerns, officials confirmed.

The port, officially known as Deendayal Port, is located in the strategically sensitive Gulf of Kutch, close to the Pakistan border. According to senior officials from the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), the suspension of operations began around 1:30 am and was accompanied by a complete blackout as a precautionary measure.

Kandla is one of India’s 12 major ports and handles a mix of liquid and bulk cargo. The temporary shutdown raised concerns about potential delays in cargo movement. "We are currently operating under Level 2 security protocol. However, if the situation escalates and we’re forced to halt operations again, vessel turnaround times will significantly increase,” an official said.

While operations have since normalized, the brief closure highlights the growing security challenges along India’s western coast amid rising tensions in the region.