Kamarajar Port’s Second Container Terminal Project Draws Strong Industry Interest

Chennai:

Port Wings News Network:

Kamarajar Port Limited (KPL), the 12th Major Port in the country, has initiated the development of its Second Container Terminal, a major capacity augmentation project aimed at strengthening the port’s container-handling capabilities and enhancing its role as a key maritime gateway on India’s eastern coast.

KPL currently has a handling capacity of 67.44 MTPA across 10 operational terminals. The Second Container Terminal is being developed on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, in alignment with the Port Master Plan 2047, Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV-2030) and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV-2047).

The RFQ-cum-RFP for the project was floated on 20 August 2026 through a single-stage, two-cover bidding process. The project involves an estimated investment of approximately Rs.4,288.26 crore and envisages a handling capacity of 2 million TEUs. The terminal will be developed in phases, with a concession period of 40 years.

Designed to cater to some of the world’s largest container vessels, the proposed terminal will be capable of handling ULCC vessels with a draft of up to 18 metres, including vessels of up to 24,346 TEUs capacity and a maximum length overall (LOA) of 400 metres.

The project is expected to significantly augment Kamarajar Port’s container-handling capacity, improve operational efficiency and facilitate economies of scale in container operations. It is also intended to strengthen the port’s connectivity with global shipping and logistics networks and support the growing containerised trade requirements of the country.

Strong industry participation

The Pre-Bid Meeting for the Second Container Terminal was held on 18 September 2026 at the KPL Corporate Office in Chennai. The meeting witnessed participation from several leading domestic and international port operators, infrastructure developers and other prospective bidders.

Among the prominent industry participants were PSA International, DP World, Maersk and Essar Ports, along with other interested stakeholders.

The participation of major industry players provided an opportunity for prospective bidders to seek clarifications and engage with KPL on various technical, commercial and contractual aspects of the project.

The strong participation at the pre-bid stage highlights the interest generated by the project among major players in the global and Indian maritime infrastructure sector. The Second Container Terminal is expected to form an important part of Kamarajar Port’s long-term capacity expansion programme and contribute to meeting the increasing demand for containerised cargo handling. The project will also support the broader objectives of enhancing India’s port infrastructure and strengthening its maritime and logistics ecosystem.

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