Tuna Port is a port town in
Anjar taluka
A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluka, or taluk) is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of South Asia. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administr ...
of
Kutch district of
Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
.
History
Tuna Port was developed during mid-eighteenth century.
Fateh Mohammad (1786–1813), a shepherd-turned-king, had further developed the existing facilities at Mandvi, Tuna and Lakhpat ports, when he was appointed as regent during reign of Rao Raydhanji III of Kutch. There is a village by same name Tuna near the port from which Tuna Port got its name.
In year 1900-01 during the reign of
Jadeja
The Jadeja (also spelled Jarejo) (Gujarati: ) is a Rajput clan that inhabits the Indian state of Gujarat. They claim to be descended from the legendary Jamshed of Iran. They also claim descent from Krishna. They originated from pastoral communi ...
King
Maharao Shri Khengarji Bawa (1875–1942), the first railway lines from Tuna Port to
Anjar were laid by narrow gauge line of
Cutch State Railway
Cutch State Railway (CSR) was an isolated narrow gauge railway in Cutch State, one of the princely states allied to Britain in India.
History
The railway was financed by the Maharao Khengarji Bawa of Cutch State. The laying of first rails st ...
,a railway promoted & owned by the
Princely State of Cutch
Cutch, also spelled Kutch or Kachchh and also historically known as the Kingdom of Kutch, was a kingdom in the Kutch region from 1147 to 1819 and a princely state under British rule from 1819 to 1947. Its territories covered the present day K ...
. The first train from Tuna Port to Anjar ran in year 1905. The line was in 1908 extended to
Bhuj
Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India.
Etymology
According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to Kin ...
, then the Capital of the Princely State of Cutch. This rail-line from Tuna to Anjar, no longer exists. However, there are plans to again revive the railway link again.
Later, during decade of 1930, Tuna Port lost its importance, when
Maharao Shri Khengarji III of Kutch, identified the location of present the
Kandla
Kandla, now officially Deendayal Port Authority, is a seaport and town in Kutch district of Gujarat state in Western India, near the city of Gandhidham. Located on the Gulf of Kutch, it is one of India's major ports on the west coast. It is ab ...
Port and developed it as a new port. A new railway line connecting
Anjar to Kandla were also laid by Cutch State Railway.
After the partition and
independence of India
The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British rule in India. It lasted from 1857 to 1947.
The first nationalistic revolutionary movement for Indian independence emerged ...
and merger of Cutch into Union of India in 1947, in 1950
Kandla Port
Kandla, now officially Deendayal Port Authority, is a seaport and town in Kutch district of Gujarat state in Western India, near the city of Gandhidham. Located on the Gulf of Kutch, it is one of India's major ports on the west coast. It is a ...
was selected by the
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, c ...
to be developed as major port to replace the loss of
Karachi
Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former cap ...
, which went to
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
. The Kandla Railway Station was later renamed
Gandhidham
Gandhidham, initially known as Sardarganj, is the largest and most populous city in Kutch District, Gujarat, India. It was created in the early 1950s for the resettlement of Sindhi Hindu refugees from Sindh (now in Pakistan) in the aftermath ...
after the new town of same name was developed for the re-settlement of
Sindhi refugees, who migrated from Pakistan upon Partition.
Present day
Tuna Port is operated by the
Kandla Port Trust. The Trust decided to develop Tuna as satellite port in Kutch as to compete with nearby privately owned
Mundra Port
Mundra Port is the largest private port of India located on the north shores of the Gulf of Kutch near Mundra, Kutch district, Gujarat. Formerly operated by Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone Limited (MPSEZ) owned by Adani Group, it was late ...
operated by
Adani Group
Adani Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate, headquartered in Ahmedabad. It was founded by Gautam Adani in 1988 as a commodity trading business, with the flagship company Adani Enterprises. The Group's diverse businesses include po ...
. This is the second port after
Vadinar
Vadinar is small coastal town located in Devbhumi Dwarka district of the state of Gujarat, India. The offshore oil terminal of the Kandla Port Trust (K. P. T.) (Previously known as Kandla Port Trust, Kandla Port Trust is renamed as Deendayal P ...
Port to be developed by Kandla Port Trust.
Tuna Port, which is under the control of Kandla Port Trust (KPT), will be developed as Satellite Port in Gujarat. This will be the second port, after the Vadinar Port, to be developed by KPT in Gujarat
/ref>
Connectivity
The nearest Airport is Kandla Airport
Kandla Airport is located north of Kandla and Varsamedi Village Anjar in the Kutch District of the state of Gujarat, India.
History
The airport was built in the late 1950s. Indian Airlines commenced passenger operations by deploying DC-3 Da ...
and Rail-head is Gandhidham
Gandhidham, initially known as Sardarganj, is the largest and most populous city in Kutch District, Gujarat, India. It was created in the early 1950s for the resettlement of Sindhi Hindu refugees from Sindh (now in Pakistan) in the aftermath ...
.
References
{{Reflist
Location of Tuna Port on Wikimap
Cities and towns in Kutch district
Ports and harbours of Gujarat
History of Kutch
Tourist attractions in Kutch district