| Work Detail |
Kamarajar Port (KPL), located 24 km north of Chennai, has celebrated 25 years since its incorporation as Ennore Port in October 1999. Over these years, the port has expanded its cargo handling capacity to approximately 57.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), and it is now focused on increasing this capacity to 254.5 MTPA by 2047.
In an interview with TOI, Sunil Paliwal, Chairman of KPL, discussed the ports future plans, which include transforming the port into a mega port, positioning it as a significant player in India’s maritime sector.
KPL has undertaken several key infrastructure projects aimed at boosting capacity, improving logistics, and enhancing trade connectivity. These include the construction of the Southern Port Access Road, the doubling of southern rail connectivity, and the building of Automobile Export/Import Terminal-II. Other notable projects include Indian Oil Corporations captive jetty, expected to be operational by the end of this month, and an additional rail link to the port from Minjur railway station.
Primarily an energy port, KPL handles a large volume of energy-related cargo, such as petroleum oil, lubricants, LPG, LNG, and coal, which constitutes about 65%-70% of its total cargo. Container cargo accounts for 25%, with the remaining percentage made up of bulk cargo like gypsum, barytes, and limestone, along with automobiles. Recently, KPL has also begun handling ‘Project Cargo’, including over-sized components like large mining trucks, which are assembled at the port.
In 2023-2024, the port handled 6,71,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of container cargo, up from 5,50,151 TEUs the previous year. As container cargo demand increases, KPL expects significant growth in this segment. The port’s nine operational terminals, with a total capacity of 57.5 MTPA, include 34 MTPA for energy cargo and 15.4 MTPA for container cargo. KPL aims to expand to 27 berths and achieve a capacity of 254.5 MTPA by 2047, with increased focus on energy, container, and other cargo, including bulk and roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) goods.
As part of its growth strategy, KPL will undertake its capital dredging phase VI project to deepen the draft to 18 meters, allowing the port to accommodate Capesize vessels for bulk cargo. This project will enhance KPL’s competitiveness along the east coast. With 2,800 acres of land available, the port is well-positioned to handle the anticipated growth, though an estimated ?5,400 crore will be required to develop the additional berths, excluding equipment costs.
In terms of financial performance, KPLs revenue for the financial year 2023-24 was ?1,081 crore, up from ?1,009 crore the previous year. Cargo handled during the April-November period of 2024-25 stood at 31.1 million tonnes, marking a 3.6% increase over the same period in the previous year. The port also handled 97,495 automobiles in the current fiscal year, with projections to exceed 1.4 lakh units by the end of the year. KPL is targeting a turnover of ?1,175 crore for the current fiscal year.
With these ongoing projects and future expansion plans, Kamarajar Port is set to become one of India’s leading mega ports, reinforcing its position as a vital gateway for trade and commerce in the eastern region. |
