Kamarajar Port Invites Bids for Second Container Terminal at an Estimated Cost of Rs 4,288 Crores

Chennai:

Port Wings News Network:

In order to meet the EXIM and Transhipment demands of container cargo, Kamarajar Port Limited planning to develop second container terminal. As such, KPL has invited bids from the eligible players for the Development of the Second Container Terminal at Kamarajar Port Limited under PPP Mode on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) Basis, and award the project to the selected bidder through an open competitive bidding process in accordance with the existing procedure.

It may be noted that the first container terminal is being operated by APSEZ through Adani Ennore Container Terminal Pvt. Ltd. (AECTPL) under the DBFOT model.

According to the details available in Request For Qualification Cum Request For Proposal released on 20 August by the management, pre-Bid Conference is scheduled on 18 September 2026 at 11.00 AM at the office of the Kamarajar Port Limited, located at Rajaji Road, Chennai. Estimated Project Cost is Rs. 4288.26 Crores (Phase-I- Rs.2429.32 Cr and Phase-II-Rs.1858.94 Cr).

The core infrastructure scope entails the phased development of a 900-meter continuous quay length (Phase I: 500m; Phase II: 400m) designed to accommodate Ultra Large Container Carriers (ULCCs) of up to 24,346 TEUs.

This includes the construction of pile berths, container stack yards, internal road and administrative buildings, a customs gate complex and essential utility networks (electrical substations, firefighting, and drainage). The project land area will be provided on an as-is-where-is basis.

The Concessionaire shall be responsible for the Design, Engineering, Financing, Procurement, Construction, Operation, Management and Maintenance of the Second Container Terminal at Kamarajar Port on a DBFOT basis for a concession period of 40 years.

The total project area to be handed over to the Concessionaire is 111.19 acres (Phase-I-61.77 acres and Phase-II- 49.42 acres).

Kamarajar Port Limited is the 12th Major Port under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India commissioned in 2001. KPL is situated in the east coast about 24 km North of Chennai Port. Since March 2020, KPL is a wholly owned company of Chennai Port Authority.

Presently, the Cargo handling capacity of KPL is 58.44 Million Tonnes with nine operational berths. Out of the nine operational berths, three berths are for handling bulk Coal, two berths are for handling Liquid Cargo (POL, LPG & LNG), two berths for Automobile export/import and associated capital goods; and one berth each to handle Container and Multi-purpose Cargo.

During FY 2025-26, the total traffic handled by the Port was 49.08 Million Tonnes. KPL has excellent external road connectivity through major arterial routes such as National Highways NH16, NH32 and NH48. The port is also connected via Port Access Road, NCTPS Approach Road, Tiruvottiyur–Ponneri–Panchetti (TPP) Road, Inner Ring Road (IRR), Chennai Bypass Road and Outer Ring Road (ORR). Kamarajar Port stands out for its strategic rail connectivity, which plays a pivotal role in enhancing the port’s operational efficiency.

The port is seamlessly integrated with the National Railway network at Attipattu and Attipattu Pudunagar stations, located on the Chennai–Gudur section of Southern Railway along the Chennai–Delhi/Kolkata route. This integration ensures smooth and uninterrupted movement of cargo to and from the port. Strong rail connectivity further strengthens the port’s role as a key hub for EXIM trade and logistics operations.