A ship docked at the Kamarajar port. | Photo Credit: Supplied

Five companies, including global players, have expressed interest in development of the bulk terminals under public-private partnership at Kamarajar Port in North Chennai. This is to augment the port’s dry bulk cargo handling capacity, sources said. businessline could not determine the names of companies.

The project will be implemented on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis. Kamarajar Port Ltd (KPL) recently invited global expressions of interest (EoI) from investors, developers and terminal operators for the proposed terminals.

The proposed project involves the construction of two mechanised bulk berths, each measuring 425 metres in length, designed to handle cape-size vessels with a deadweight of 1.5- 1.8 lakh tonnes.

Bulk commodities

The terminals will cater to dry bulk commodities such as barytes, gypsum, limestone, bauxite, slag, ore and iron pellets through fully mechanised cargo handling systems aimed at improving operational efficiency while ensuring dust-free operations.

Sources said the current EoI process is a preliminary market assessment to determine the mix of cargo that can be handled at the proposed terminals. Based on the responses received, KPL will finalise the project configuration before preparing the detailed project report and financial model ahead of the formal bidding process.

At present, Kamarajar port has a cargo handling capacity of 58.44 million tonnes across nine operational berths. Three berths handle bulk coal, two cater to liquid cargo (POL, LPG and LNG), two are dedicated to automobile exports and imports, and one each handles containers and multi-purpose cargo. During FY26, the port handled 49.08 mt of cargo.

The proposed bulk terminals will be located within a dock basin measuring approximately 425 metres by 385 metres, between the existing common user coal terminal and the multi-cargo terminal.

The area, which is currently land-covered, will be dredged by KPL to a depth of minus 20 metres Chart Datum to create the required waterfront infrastructure.

Once completed, the facility will be capable of accommodating cape-size vessels up to 300 metres in length, with an 18-m permissible draft and carrying up to 1.8 lakh DWT, the EoI said.

The project also includes a seven-acre area adjacent to the berths for immediate operational requirements and an additional 100-150 acres outside the port premises for storage, cargo handling and logistics infrastructure.

The terminal is expected to support future export-import trade by providing high-capacity maritime logistics infrastructure and strengthening connectivity with hinterland markets, the EoI said.

Developers have also been invited to propose alternative development and financing models.

Published on July 1, 2026