The Rs.70.56 billion outer harbour project at VOC Port, Thoothukudi, has been cancelled for the second time due to no bidders coming forward. The December 2024 re-tender—issued after disqualifying the only two applicants (Vedanta and Premier Science and Technology) in the first round—also failed despite relaxed eligibility criteria. The project, planned on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis, was to add 4 million TEUs capacity in two stages. Stage one, costing `44.94 billion, involved berths I and II, while stage two, costing `25.61 billion, would cover berths III and IV. The port may restructure the RFP.