Bhubaneswar: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has emerged as the highest bidder for the development and operation of two dry bulk cargo berths at Paradip Port, strengthening its presence on the east coast and adding 18 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to its cargo-handling capacity. APSEZ said it has received the Letter of Award (LoA) for the project, which will increase its total port capacity portfolio to 671 MMTPA and support its goal of handling 1 billion tonnes of cargo annually by 2030.Under the 30-year public-private partnership (PPP) concession, APSEZ will develop the CQ-I and CQ-II berths with mechanised cargo-handling systems, deep-draft facilities and large-scale storage infrastructure. “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,” said Ashwani Gupta, director and CEO of APSEZ.Located in a mineral-rich hinterland and close to major steel plants, Paradip is India’s second-largest major port and a key gateway for bulk cargo. The new terminal is expected to enhance APSEZ’s ability to handle growing volumes of coal, limestone and other dry bulk commodities while expanding its reach across industrial hubs in eastern and central India. The company said the project would help address capacity constraints at east coast ports amid rising cargo demand, driven by expansion in the steel sector and increased domestic coal production.
