~Essar Ports secures LOA from Deendayal Port Authority for the ₹2,276.06 crore Tuna Tekra multipurpose cargo terminal at Kandla, Gujarat, with an annual capacity of 18.33 million tonnes.
Mumbai, Maharashtra, Oct 21 (VNI): Essar Ports Limited has received the Letter of Award (LOA) from Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) for developing a multipurpose cargo terminal at Tuna Tekra, Kandla, Gujarat, under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) route. Essar Ports emerged as the highest bidder in a global competitive bidding process, marking a significant milestone in India’s port infrastructure development.
The project has an estimated total cost of ₹2,276.06 crore, comprising an investment of more than ₹1,552.57 crore by Essar Ports and ₹723.49 crore by DPA. Strategically located on India’s western coast, the Tuna Tekra multipurpose cargo terminal is expected to strengthen maritime infrastructure, increase cargo-handling capacity and facilitate the growth of domestic and international trade.
Commenting on the development, Ashish Rajgarhia, CEO of Essar Ports, said the Tuna Tekra project marks a defining moment in the company’s efforts to rebuild and expand its ports business. With an investment of approximately ₹2,000 crore, the project will lay the foundation for the company’s next phase of growth. He also highlighted that the foundation stone for the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reaffirming Essar Ports’ commitment to world-class maritime infrastructure and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
V. Srinivasan, Operating Partner–Infrastructure at Essar Group, said Essar Ports is entering an important phase of growth, focusing on portfolio expansion, operational capabilities and sustainable long-term value creation. The company aims to build on its established expertise in port infrastructure while pursuing opportunities aligned with India’s expanding trade and infrastructure requirements.
The proposed Tuna Tekra terminal will have an annual cargo-handling capacity of 18.33 million tonnes and feature four berths, each measuring 300 metres, with a combined berth length of 1,200 metres. The facility will be capable of accommodating Cape-size vessels of up to 170,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT), with a draft capability of up to 18 metres.
As part of the project, Deendayal Port Authority will provide common-user infrastructure, including dredging of the access channel, berth pockets and turning circles, along with a common approach road. The terminal will be developed and operated in compliance with applicable environmental requirements and the Green Port Policy.
The additional cargo-handling infrastructure is expected to ease pressure on existing dry-cargo berths, improve port operations and strengthen multimodal connectivity. The ability to accommodate larger vessels is also expected to enhance shipping efficiency and improve logistics competitiveness.
Essar Group, a global conglomerate with more than five decades of entrepreneurial experience, operates across energy, infrastructure, metals and mining, technology and retail. Essar Ports currently has approximately 60 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of operational capacity across Gujarat, Indonesia and the United Kingdom. Through the Tuna Tekra project, the company aims to expand its port infrastructure portfolio and strengthen its presence in India’s growing maritime and logistics sector. VNI NEWS AGENCY, Essar Ports, Tuna Tekra Terminal, Kandla Port, Deendayal Port Authority, DPA, Gujarat Port Infrastructure, Multipurpose Cargo Terminal, Indian Maritime Infrastructure, Ashish Rajgarhia, V Srinivasan, Essar Group, PPP Project, Port Development Gujarat, Cargo Handling Capacity, Indian Shipping Industry,
Essar Ports Tuna Tekra project
Tuna Tekra multipurpose cargo terminal
Essar Ports Kandla Gujarat
Deendayal Port Authority LOA
Kandla port infrastructure development
₹2,276 crore Tuna Tekra project
18.33 million tonnes cargo terminal, VNINews, VNINews.com