Kandla Port is set to undergo a significant transformation with two major projects announced by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, involving a total investment of Rs 570 billion. The development includes a Rs 300 billion shipbuilding and repair facility and a Rs 270 billion cargo terminal outside Kandla Creek, designed to enhance the port’s capacity by an impressive 135 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
The shipbuilding facility will manufacture large vessels such as Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), with capacities of up to 320,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT). Spanning 8,000 acres, it will be capable of producing 32 new ships and repairing 50 old vessels annually. This comprehensive facility will also feature a marina, fishing harbour, residential townships, and a marine industrial cluster to support ancillary manufacturing and assembly units.
In parallel, the new cargo terminal outside Kandla Creek will feature advanced equipment and systems for efficient segregation of dry and liquid cargo, reducing tanker wait times and enhancing turnaround efficiency. This facility will allow Kandla Port to prioritise liquid cargo operations and streamline logistics.
Additional developments under the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) include a mega cargo terminal with a capacity of 2.19 million TEU and a multi-cargo terminal at Tuna Tekra, adding 18.33 MTPA to the port’s capacity. Ongoing projects also include three new oil jetties with a combined capacity of 10 MTPA, a single buoy mooring with two product jetties at Vadinar adding 24.5 MTPA for liquid cargo, and a proposed ship repair facility to service 32 vessels annually.
These strategic initiatives are expected to position Kandla as a pivotal hub for maritime trade, significantly boosting India’s port infrastructure and economic development.
