Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has emerged as the highest bidder to develop and operate two dry bulk berths at Paradip Port in Odisha. The project will add 18 mn metric tonnes (MMT) of annual cargo-handling capacity to the company’s domestic portfolio.

APSEZ has received the letter of award for the CQ-I and CQ-II berths under a 30-year public-private partnership (PPP) concession. The facilities will include mechanised cargo-handling systems, deep-draft berths and storage infrastructure. Their addition will increase APSEZ’s domestic port capacity to 671 MMT per annum from 653 MMT at present.

The berths will primarily handle dry bulk commodities such as coal and limestone. The project will expand APSEZ’s presence in the industrial and mineral-producing hinterland of eastern and central India, while providing additional infrastructure for cargo moving through the region.

APSEZ said the award came as ports on India’s east coast recorded high utilisation levels and demand for cargo-handling capacity continued to rise. The company identified expanding steel production in the hinterland and the government’s efforts to increase domestic coal output as factors supporting demand for bulk cargo infrastructure.

Paradip is a major Indian port and an important gateway for bulk commodities. The project will strengthen APSEZ’s presence along the eastern coastline and support its broader growth plans. The company handles about 27 per cent of India’s total port volumes and has set a target of handling 1 bn tonnes of cargo by 2030.

The award follows the Paradip Port Authority’s successful berthing of its first Capesize vessel at Western Dock-1 at a draft of 16.5 metres. The development highlights the port’s ability to accommodate larger vessels and handle increasing volumes of bulk cargo. The new berths are expected to support capacity expansion as regional cargo flows grow.