Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the ambitious project, “Development of Container Terminal on BOT Basis under PPP Mode” situated at Tuna-Tekra at Deendayal Port, on Tuesday, October 17, marking a significant milestone for the Deendayal Port Authority and DP World.
The new 2.19 million TEU per annum mega container terminal on India’s western coast, to be built at a cost of Rs 4,539 crores at Deendayal Port in Gujarat, is expected to cater to trade demand from Northern, Western and Central India, connecting these regions to global markets.
The momentous occasion was graced by the esteemed presence of Janaksinh Jadeja, President, Kutch District Panchayat, Virendrasinh Jadeja, MLA (Rapar), Maltiben Maheshwari, MLA (Gandhidham), Tejas Sheth, President, Gandhidham Municipality, and Suresh Joseph, Director (Projects), DP World, amongst other dignitaries.
S K Mehta, Chairman of Deendayal Port Authority, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership stating, “This collaborative endeavour signifies our shared dedication to transforming India’s maritime landscape. The container terminal at Tuna-Tekra is poised to become a key hub for trade, not only in the region but on a global scale.”
Rizwan Soomar, MD and CEO – Middle East and North Africa and Indian subcontinent, DP World said, “We are extremely happy to partner with Deendayal Port Authority in developing the Tuna-Tekra mega container terminal. The foundation stone laying ceremony is yet another step towards our commitment to building a best-in-class port infrastructure that will connect Northern, Western, and Central India with global markets, drive economic growth in the hinterlands enabling us to grow the trade possibilities for all stakeholders.”
The Tuna-Tekra mega container terminal project is being developed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Deendayal Port Authority and Hindustan Infralog (a joint venture between DP World and National Investment and Infrastructure Fund – India’s collaborative investment platform anchored by the central government). This collaboration marks a significant milestone in India’s maritime sector.
The project is part of the National Infrastructure Pipeline and will complement initiatives of the centre such as the PM Gati Shakti Master Plan and National Logistics Policy. It aligns seamlessly with the government’s vision of fostering economic growth and ensuring India’s competitiveness in the global maritime domain by revolutionising port infrastructure. The project is anticipated to enhance port efficiency, facilitate smoother cargo movement, and drive economic prosperity in the region.
The container terminal will be fully compliant with the green port guidelines ensuring sustainability in port operations by adopting best practices of port environment management contributing towards the long-term sustainability goals set out by the Government of India.
Once completed in 2027, the Tuna-Tekra container terminal will have state-of-the-art equipment and a 1,100 m berth capable of handling next-generation vessels carrying more than 18,000 TEUs. As part of this concession agreement the berth can be further extended to 1,375 mt.
DP World currently operates five container terminals in India – two in Nhava Sheva, one each in Mundra, Cochin and Chennai – with a combined capacity of approximately 6 million TEUs. The new greenfield terminal at Tuna-Tekra, with an annual capacity of 2.19 million TEUs, will increase DP World’s combined capacity to 8.19 million TEUs.