Adani Ports, Vedanta, Essar Ports file initial bids for multipurpose cargo berth at Tuna

By Admin

05 Jun, 2025

In a strategic move aimed at boosting cargo handling capacity on India's western coast, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, Vedanta Ltd, Essar Ports Ltd, and Gautam Freight Pvt Ltd have submitted initial bids for a high-stakes project at Tuna Tekra, a satellite facility of Deendayal Port Authority near Kandla, Gujarat. The port authority had floated a tender to build a multipurpose cargo berth with an estimated investment of ₹1,552.57 crore.

Tuna Tekra Terminal: A Key Infrastructure Push

The proposed multipurpose terminal, located outside Kandla Creek, is designed to handle 18.33 million tonnes (MT) of cargo per year (excluding liquid and containerised cargo). This will significantly augment the existing dry cargo handling infrastructure of Deendayal Port, which currently has a dry cargo capacity of 59.96 MT across its berths and jetties.

Third Attempt for Development

This marks the third attempt by Deendayal Port Authority to develop this berth through private investment. Learning from previous rounds, the authority has offered more liberal commercial terms to attract credible bidders. The successful bidder will be selected based on the highest royalty quoted per tonne of cargo handled, making it a highly competitive bidding process.

Project Scope and Flexibility

Once awarded, the operator will enjoy freedom to set tariffs in accordance with market conditions. The scope of the project includes:

• Construction of the berth and approach trestle
  
  

• Installation of mechanised cargo handling equipment
  
  

• Building utility corridors, rail loading yards, and backup storage areas
  
  

• Establishing railroad connectivity
  
  

Vessel Specifications and Cargo Types

The new berth is expected to accommodate vessels up to 100,000 DWT with a draft of 15 metres, while maintaining a berth-side depth of 16.5 metres. It will be equipped to handle a variety of dry bulk and break-bulk cargoes, such as food grains, fertilisers, coal, ores and minerals, steel cargo, among others.

Dredging and Investment Responsibilities

The Deendayal Port Authority will bear the cost for:

• Capital and maintenance dredging of the access channel up to 15 metres
  
  

• Capital and maintenance dredging alongside the berth and turning circle
  
  

If the operator intends to accommodate deeper draft vessels (up to 18 metres), the additional dredging will be a shared-cost effort or fully borne by the private operator depending on the area of dredging.

Regulatory Clearances in Place

The project has already received environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance, removing one of the major hurdles for large-scale infrastructure development.

Strategic Importance

Situated in Gujarat, Deendayal Port serves a vast hinterland, including Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. As cargo volumes continue to rise, especially for dry bulk commodities, expanding infrastructure like the Tuna Tekra berth is crucial for maintaining efficient cargo movement and national trade competitiveness.

With big industry players like Adani Ports, Vedanta, Essar Ports, and Gautam Freight in the fray, this project promises to reshape the regional logistics landscape and set a new benchmark for public-private partnerships in the Indian port sector.