Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) has shortlisted four cities in Gujarat for development as port-led cities. These cities are Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Surat, and Valsad.
After conducting in-depth research, it was found that these cities have water access, waterfront spaces, and road and rail connectivity, making them viable for development.
The state government has been attempting to develop ports in the state for the past decade. In January 2024, the Vibrant Summit was organised to discuss the significance of port development in these cities.
Sources from the port department indicated that the government had previously selected Pipavav, Hajira, Nagrol, Porbandar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, and the Gulf of Kutch. However, in 2012, a study determined that Pipavav was not viable for development.
Currently, the only port being developed as a city is Kandla Port.
With the help of a multi-criteria matrix, the GMB has shortlisted these four sites for port city development. Valsad was selected due to its excellent connectivity with the economic zone in South Gujarat.
Hajira ranks high on the list because of its connectivity to powerhouses and its proximity to major ports. Bhavnagar was chosen for development as a port city due to its strategic location and deep draft port.