Gujarat Maritime Board shortlists four sites for Port-Led City development
GANDHINAGAR : The consultants engaged by Gujarat Maritime Board has shortlisted four locations for the development of a state-of-the-art port-led city as part of Gujarat’s Vision 2047. This ambitious initiative is set to transform Gujarat’s maritime landscape, fostering economic growth, industrial development and job creation.
Following a series of site visits, four locations have been identified for potential Port-Led City development in the districts of Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Surat, and Valsad. These locations were selected based on key factors such as proximity to deep-water access, availability of waterfront space, connectivity to robust road and rail networks and their potential to support sustainable industrial growth.
Among the shortlisted sites, South Gujarat stands out due to its superior connectivity and close proximity to cargo-generating zones like Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Bhavnagar follows as a strong contender, because of its deep draft and strategic positioning. Surat, situated near the industrial powerhouse of Hazira, also ranks high due to its established infrastructure and close links to major ports and industries, making it ideal for both industrial and port-led development. Additionally, evaluations were carried out on various other locations along the Gujarat coastline, further broadening the scope for future port-led city development initiatives.
The selection of the final four sites for the Port-Led City development was based on a multicriteria analysis framework, ensuring that each location met essential maritime, industrial, and environmental standards. The evaluation was done using a Multi-Criteria Matrix (MCM), where each criterion was assigned a weight based on its importance. Scores were calculated for each location based on how well they met the criteria, and the top four locations were selected through this structured ranking system. These rigorous evaluation parameters ensure that the shortlisted locations are best suited for sustainable, efficient, and futureproof development of Gujarat’s Port-Led City initiative.
The Gujarat Maritime Board aims to continue stakeholder engagement to ensure the successful realization of this project.