Kamarajar Port Ltd (KPL), India’s 12th Major Port located in North Chennai, has initiated the process to select a private operator for the Upgradation, Equipping, Operations, Maintenance and Transfer (UEOMT) of its General Cargo Berth-1 (GCB-1). The project will be implemented under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The upgraded berth—designed to handle clean palletised and bagged cargo, as well as non-polluting breakbulk, containerised and project cargo—will be developed at a capital cost of ₹221 crore. Once completed, it will have an annual handling capacity of 3 million tonnes, according to industry sources.
KPL has issued a Request for Qualification (RFQ) inviting private companies to participate in the project. The port features a 16.5 m draft capable of accommodating mega-ships, and currently operates nine berths.
GCB-1, originally developed at a cost of ₹140 crore and commissioned in January 2012, was created primarily for car exports and general cargo. It can berth car carriers with capacities of up to 8,000 vehicles and is supported by a vast 2,18,175 sq.m backup yard—the largest car-parking facility at any Indian port, with space for 14,700 cars.
With the commissioning of the new General Cargo Berth-2 in January 2024—dedicated entirely to automobile import and export—KPL has now decided to shift all Ro-Ro operations to GCB-2 and upgrade GCB-1 for diversified clean cargo handling.
GCB-1 spans 278 metres in length and 27.5 metres in width. Environmental clearance currently specifies a 250 m x 35 m configuration, which can be modified after the signing of the concession agreement. For cargo handling, the concessionaire will be required to upgrade the berth structure, replace fenders, develop the yard area, and procure equipment such as mobile harbour cranes, reach stackers, forklifts, and tractor trailers. KPL will provide approximately 8.44 hectares of backup storage within the port.
The private operator will also have the freedom to set market-driven tariffs and will pay royalty to KPL over a 30-year concession period, which includes two years for construction and 28 years of operations.
Kamarajar Port currently has a total cargo handling capacity of 58 MTPA. Its facilities include three coal berths, two liquid cargo berths, two general cargo berths (GCB-1 and GCB-2), one container terminal operated by Adani Ennore Container Terminal Pvt Ltd, and one bulk and breakbulk terminal run by Ennore Bulk Terminal Pvt Ltd. In FY25, the port handled 48 million tonnes of cargo.
Industry insiders say the allocation of GCB-1 to a private operator will significantly boost clean cargo handling, potentially diverting substantial volumes currently managed by Chennai Port. With superior connectivity and deeper draft, KPL is positioned to emerge as a preferred hub for such cargo in the region.
