Mormugao Port Plans ₹1,300 Crore Redevelopment of Berth 9.

Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) plans to seek ₹1,300 crore in funding from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to redevelop Berth 9 and deepen the port’s navigational channel, MPA Chairman N. Vinodkumar said.

The port has already submitted a proposal requesting ₹750 crore to modernise and develop a 350-metre-long multi-cargo facility at Berth 9, which remains idle. Berth 9 is the only berth at Mormugao Port yet to be privatised. “We want to develop a 350m multi-cargo berth with a shore power system. We expect the Government of India to approve that and provide the required funds,” Vinodkumar said.

A second proposal, expected to be submitted in a few months, seeks funding for capital dredging of the berths and the approach channel. The current draft is 14.4 metres; the plan aims to increase it to 19.8 metres in the channel and 19.5 metres at four berths, making Mormugao one of India’s few deep-draft ports. The deepening is expected to lower carbon emissions and reduce freight and logistics costs by allowing larger Capesize vessels to dock, compared with the current Panamax vessels with limited cargo capacity.

Vinodkumar noted that due to MPA’s constrained finances and the 50% funding cap on Sagarmala projects, the port is seeking 100% funding from the Centre. “₹1,300 crore is a really large investment for a small port like us. We cannot even afford to spend ₹600–700 crore,” he said. Both proposals are expected to be submitted to the government within three to four months.