Pipavav port launches long-awaited capacity expansion

Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd (GPPL) has kickstarted its long-pending capacity expansion by awarding contracts to L&T Geostructure Pvt Ltd for building a new liquid jetty and to Van Oord India Pvt Ltd for capital dredging and reclamation works. The move follows environmental clearance granted in June for the expansion project. The new liquid jetty is expected to enhance cargo diversification, service reliability, and regional economic growth. GPPL Managing Director Girish Aggarwal said the contracts mark a shift from “investment to impact,” supported by the Gujarat Maritime Board and aligned with the state’s broader maritime vision. The approved works include multiple new berths, container yards, storage facilities, railway sidings, dredging, and other marine infrastructure both within and outside the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).

GPPL, India’s first full-scale private port developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, is 43.01% owned by APM Terminals, part of global shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk. The port currently handles 1.35 million TEUs, 5 million tonnes of dry bulk, 2 million tonnes of liquid cargo, and 2.5 lakh car equivalent units (CEUs) annually.