Key Highlights
- APSEZ emerged as the highest bidder for two dry bulk berths at Paradip Port in Odisha.
- The company received a Letter of Award (LOA) from the Paradip Port Authority.
- The project covers the development and operation of the CQ-I and CQ-II dry bulk berths.
- The concession has been awarded for a 30-year period under a BOT model.
- The project will add 18 MMT of mechanised dry bulk handling capacity to APSEZ’s domestic portfolio.
- APSEZ’s total domestic port capacity is expected to increase to around 671 MMT.
- The Paradip project strengthens APSEZ’s presence across eastern and central India’s industrial and mineral-rich hinterland.
- The expansion complements APSEZ’s existing 140 MMT capacity across Haldia, Dhamra, Gopalpur and Gangavaram ports.
- The project supports APSEZ’s target of reaching 1 billion tonnes of cargo throughput by 2030.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) has emerged as the highest bidder for the development and operation of two dry bulk berths at Paradip Port in Odisha, marking the company’s strategic expansion into eastern India’s major maritime gateway.
APSEZ has received a Letter of Award (LOA) from the Paradip Port Authority for the development and operation of the CQ-I and CQ-II dry bulk berths. The project has been awarded under a 30-year concession through a competitive bidding process.
The company will operate the berths under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement. According to the company’s regulatory filing, APSEZ will be responsible for mechanising, operating and maintaining the two berths.
18 MMT Additional Capacity
The project is expected to add approximately 18 million metric tonnes (MMT) of mechanised dry bulk handling capacity to APSEZ’s domestic port portfolio.
With the addition, APSEZ’s total domestic port capacity is expected to increase to around 671 MMT. The company said the additional capacity will support its objective of reaching 1 billion tonnes of cargo throughput by 2030.
The two berths are expected to feature modern cargo-handling systems, deep-draft facilities and large-scale storage infrastructure, enabling the handling of bulk commodities at one of India’s major ports on the eastern coast.
Strategic Expansion into Eastern India
Paradip Port is located along the mineral-rich hinterland of eastern India and serves major industrial and manufacturing clusters. The port handles significant volumes of commodities including coal, limestone and other dry bulk cargo.
APSEZ said its entry into Paradip will complement its existing 140 MMT capacity across Haldia, Dhamra, Gopalpur and Gangavaram ports. The expanded network is expected to improve the company’s access to cargo originating from the mineral-rich regions of eastern and central India.
The company also expects the project to address growing demand for dry bulk handling capacity along India’s East Coast, where higher industrial activity and rising cargo volumes are driving demand for port infrastructure.
Concession Agreement Expected Within 30 Days
As per the regulatory filing, the detailed terms and conditions of the project will be governed by the concession agreement. The agreement is expected to be executed and signed within 30 days of the issuance of the LOA by the Paradip Port Authority.
The consideration or size of the order could not be ascertained at this stage, as it will depend on future cargo volumes.
APSEZ Whole-time Director and CEO Ashwani Gupta said the Paradip concession would strengthen the company’s presence on India’s eastern coast and expand its access to one of the country’s key industrial and mineral-rich hinterlands.
The project is expected to further strengthen APSEZ’s integrated port, logistics and marine services network while supporting cargo movement across eastern and central India.