Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) has emerged as the highest bidder and received the Letter of Award (LoA) for the development and operation of two dry bulk berths at Paradip Port in Odisha. The addition of 18 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of capacity will increase APSEZ’s total domestic portfolio to 671 MMT, taking the company closer to its target of achieving 1 billion tonnes of cargo throughput by 2030.
The berths, CQ-I and CQ-II, will be developed under a 30-year concession through the Public-Private Partnership model. APSEZ will establish mechanised cargo-handling systems, deep-draft berths and large-scale storage facilities as part of the project. The new mechanised dry bulk capacity will be developed on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis.
The Paradip project represents APSEZ’s entry into one of India’s key bulk cargo gateways and the country’s second-largest major port. The move complements the company’s existing 140 MMT capacity across Haldia, Dhamra, Gopalpur and Gangavaram ports, further extending its operations along the eastern seaboard.
“The Paradip concession will strengthen APSEZ’s presence on the East Coast and expand our access to one of India’s most important industrial and mineral-rich hinterlands. With Paradip, APSEZ’s network grows to 16 ports and terminals across India’s 11,000-km coastline, strengthening our ability to deliver integrated port, logistics and marine solutions through the country’s most comprehensive transport infrastructure platform,” said Mr. Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO, APSEZ.
Situated within a mineral-rich hinterland and surrounded by major steel plants, Paradip is a significant gateway for bulk cargo and ranks as India’s second-largest major port. The new terminal will enable APSEZ to handle increasing volumes of coal, limestone and other dry bulk commodities, while extending its reach into key industrial and manufacturing clusters across eastern and central India.
The addition of the new capacity comes against the backdrop of high utilisation levels at ports along India’s East Coast and rising cargo demand. Growing steel capacity in the hinterland, along with the government’s push to increase domestic coal production and consumption, is expected to support cargo growth and create greater demand for port capacity.
The Paradip berths will also improve APSEZ’s access to the mineral-rich hinterland of eastern and central India, supporting long-term cargo expansion while helping address regional capacity constraints. The project is expected to contribute to smoother cargo movement and support industrial growth across the region.
APSEZ will have a network of 16 ports and terminals across India’s 11,000-km coastline, while its domestic capacity rises to 671 MMT. The project further strengthens the company’s position across India’s eastern maritime and logistics network.
