New Delhi

Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) today said it had commissioned a bulk terminal at Tuna Tekra, Kandla Port, with an annual handling capacity of over 20 million tonnes.

Minister for Shipping and Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the terminal after the berthing of the project’s first vessel MV Sheng Ming earlier in the day, APSEZ said in a statement.

“We expect the terminal to be a game-changer for Export Import trade of the Northwest hinterland of India, thanks to its strategic location,” APSEZ Executive Director Karan Adani said.

“We are now aiming to complete the container terminal project in Chennai in a record time frame,” APSEZ CEO Sudipta Bhattacharya said.

The consortium led by APSEZ, formed a SPV named Adani Kandla Bulk Terminal Pvt Ltd (AKBTPL) after winning the contract in June 2012 to set up the bulk terminal. The terminal was completed within the stipulated time frame.

The project is expected to benefit the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh amongst others.

It is connected to the National Highway grid through NH-8A coming from Ahmedabad via Wankaner, Morbi and terminates at the Kandla Port.

APSEZ also operates ports in Mundra, Hazira and Dahej, in Gujarat, Dhamra in Odisha and operates specialized coal handling facilities in Mormugao in Goa, Visakhapatinam in Andhra Pradesh. It is currently setting up a container terminal in Tuticorin, Chennai.

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