India is set to operationalise its first coastal green shipping corridor, linking Kandla in Gujarat to Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. Developed jointly by Deendayal Port Authority and V O Chidambaranar Port Authority, the route is expected to be functional within the next three to six months.

In collaboration with the Shipping Corporation of India, the corridor will pioneer the use of retrofitted container vessels powered by green methanol. Production and bunkering facilities are being established at both ports. Thoothukudi has already begun pilot production of green hydrogen, while Kandla aims to generate one megawatt by the end of the financial year.

Senior officials have finalised logistics, infrastructure upgrades, and economic viability for the route. Key discussions covered methanol bunkering, container optimisation, and scalability. The model may extend to international routes, including Kandla to Europe and Singapore via VOC Port.

The project supports India’s net zero carbon target by twenty seventy and promotes equitable, resilient transport infrastructure. Coastal shipping offers a cost-effective alternative to road and rail, making greening this mode both strategic and sustainable.

While challenges remain in fuel scaling and retrofitting, the initiative is expected to drive innovation and international collaboration in clean maritime transport.

Source:Urban Acres