Adani Ports Secures 30-Year Contract to Operate Multipurpose Terminal at Deendayal Port

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s largest private port operator, has signed a concession agreement with the Deendayal Port Authority to develop and operate a 5.7 million-tonne multipurpose terminal at Kandla, Gujarat. This terminal will focus on handling clean cargo, including containers, under a 30-year contract won by APSEZ by offering the highest royalty per tonne in a competitive tender process.

Privatization through the National Monetisation Pipeline 

Deendayal Port, India’s second-largest state-owned port in terms of volume, is undergoing privatisation through a public-private partnership (PPP) as part of the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) programme. The concession agreement outlines the framework for APSEZ’s involvement in expanding and operating Berth No. 13, which features a 300-metre quay capable of accommodating large vessels with a 14.5-metre draught. Currently managed by the Deendayal Port Authority, the berth will be transitioned to private operation in alignment with the government’s NMP initiative, aimed at monetising existing infrastructure assets.

Terminal Capacity and Cargo Types

The facility’s optimal capacity is set at 5.7 million tonnes, consisting of 4.2 million tonnes of dry bulk and break bulk cargo, as well as 100,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of containerised cargo. The terminal will handle a variety of clean cargo types, including project cargo, roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) cargo, sugar, salt, wooden logs, silica sand, and containers.

Installation of Modern Equipment and Infrastructure Development

To support these operations, APSEZ will install state-of-the-art cargo handling equipment, such as rubber-tyred gantry cranes, reach stackers, spreaders, and dry bulk handling machinery. The project will also include the development of storage yards, covered sheds, and additional internal road and rail infrastructure to enhance the terminal’s operational efficiency.

This development follows APSEZ’s recent acquisition of the Dar es Salaam container terminal in Tanzania, further expanding the company’s footprint in global port operations.