Adani Ports to acquire L&T's Kattupalli Port in Tamil Nadu

MUMBAI: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), through its subsidiary Adani Kattupalli Port, has entered into an in principle agreement for the strategic acquisition of the Kattupalli Port in Tamil Nadu from L&T Shipbuilding.

The agreement entails Adani taking over the operations of the port, even as it awaits necessary approvals from the government.

Kattupalli is a deep water all weather port with an international container terminal located 35 kms from Chennai.

The Port commenced commercial operations in January 2013 and has two berths with a total quay length of about 710 meters. The berths are equipped with six quay cranes and designed to handle container, dry bulk & break-bulk cargo.

Currently, the port has a cargo handling capacity of 1.2 Million TEUs per annum. There is an environmental approval for further expansion.

"The Kattupalli port is a strategic complement to our Ennore Container terminal which is getting commissioned next year. Both these ports will substantially help reduce congestion in the region and will thereby help contribute to the rapid growth of the State of Tamil Nadu and the surrounding regions," said Gautam Adani, chairman, Adani Group.

The Kattupalli Port is located adjacent to and north of Ennore Port, where APSEZ is developing the Ennore container terminal.