Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has announced two major initiatives aimed at enhancing the capacity of Kandla Port, involving a total investment of ₹57,000 crores. These projects include the construction of a new Mega Shipbuilding Facility and the development of a new cargo terminal outside Kandla Creek.
The Mega Shipbuilding Facility, with an investment of ₹30,000 crores, aims to create technical capabilities for manufacturing Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) or vessels of similar class with a capacity of up to 3,20,000 tonnes DWT. The facility will have the capacity to produce 32 new ships and repair 50 older ships annually. Spread over 8,000 acres, it will include a marina, fishing harbour, townships, and a marine industrial cluster.
The new cargo terminal, to be constructed near Tuna, will cost ₹27,000 crores and will add 135 MTPA capacity to Kandla Port. The terminal will utilize a six-kilometer waterfront and modern cargo-handling systems to manage dry bulk cargo. Existing cargo jetties will be converted into facilities for handling liquid cargo, which will streamline operations and reduce waiting times for liquid tanker vessels.
Minister Sonowal stated that the initiatives align with the government’s “Make in India, Make for the World” vision and contribute to achieving self-reliance in India’s maritime infrastructure.
In addition, the Deendayal Port Authority is undertaking several projects to enhance Kandla Port’s capacity. These include a mega cargo terminal with a capacity of 2.19 million TEUs under the PPP mode and a proposed multi-cargo terminal at Tuna Tekra that will add 18.33 MTPA capacity.
Three oil jetties and additional facilities for liquid cargo handling at Vadinar are also under construction, which will increase capacity by 24.5 MTPA. A ship repair facility capable of servicing 32 vessels annually is also planned at Vadinar.
