Adani Ports Secures Five-Year Operation Contract For Largest Container Terminal On India's Eastern Coast

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ), a part of the globally diversified Adani Group, has received the letter of intent (LOI) for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the container facility at the Netaji Subhas Dock at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee (SMP) Port in Kolkata.

APSEZ won the five-year O&M contract through a competitive bidding process, which mandates the successful bidder to deploy cargo handling equipment within seven months from the letter of acceptance (LOA) date.

Netaji Subhas Dock is the largest container terminal on the eastern coast of India. Its operations have seen significant volumes, having handled approximately 0.63 million TEUs in FY2023-24. The terminal serves a vast hinterland, including West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam, as well as the north-eastern hill states and the landlocked neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan.

Kolkata port also serves as the nominated port for the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade route, with Netaji Subhas Dock receiving regular liner service calls from key hub ports of Singapore, Port Kelang, and Colombo.

APSEZ's presence at the dock is poised to improve connectivity between the terminal and its container ports, particularly with the transshipment hubs at Vizhinjam and Colombo, both of which are targeted for commissioning during the year.

As India's largest port developer and operator, APSEZ manages a comprehensive network of 15 ports and terminals across the nation's expansive coastline, with a collective capacity to handle approximately 627 million tonnes of cargo annually.

The company's scope extends beyond India; it's engaged in developing a transshipment port in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and holds ownership of the Haifa Port in Israel.

Furthermore, the company is eyeing the development of a 25-metre-deep port capable of accommodating Panamax vessels in Bataan province, the Philippines.