Kakinada Gateway Port set to be commissioned by early 2027

The Kakinada Gateway Port, currently under construction in the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ), is set to be commissioned by early 2027. The greenfield port, being the third on the Kakinada coast, will be built by Kakinada Gateway Port Private Limited (KGPL), a subsidiary of Auro Infra Private Limited. With an estimated cost of ₹2,620 crore, the port will have three berths with a capacity to handle 16 Million Metric Ton Per Annum.

The first phase of the port will focus on exporting coal, granite, fertilizers, and aluminium. A Liquefied Natural Gas terminal is planned for the second phase, which will facilitate maritime trade facilities for companies in the oil and natural gas exploration sector. The construction of the breakwater facility, consisting of a 2.715 km-long South Breakwater and 589 meters of North Breakwater, has been completed recently.

KGPL's Managing Director, Ram Reddy Ojili, announced that the first berth construction is in full swing and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, bringing the port closer to its commissioning by early 2027. The four-lane Bharat Mala greenfield highway, passing through the port, will also be completed by early next year, coinciding with the port's commissioning timeline.

Additionally, the railway authorities have consented to the proposed 15-km railway track that will connect the port to Samarlakota, estimated to cost ₹400 crore. The KGPL has proposed to lay this railway track, which will help improve the port's connectivity and efficiency. The Kakinada district authorities are currently engaged in land acquisition for the railway project.

With the resolution of legacy land challenges and ongoing talks with major investors for various projects, KSEZ authorities are optimistic about attracting significant investments. Recently, an additional 2,100 acres of land, which was previously excluded from the KSEZ, has been handed over to the farmers by the KSEZ authorities.