India to build mechanised fertilizer handling facility

The Indian shipping ministry has approved a project to build a fully mechanised fertilizer cargo handling facility at Deendayal port in Kandla in western India.

The proposed facility will initially handle 2.6mn t/yr of fertilizers, increasing to 4.5mn t/yr.

The facility is expected to be commissioned by October 2020. Tenders are being issued to construct the project.

The total external cost is estimated at 1.38bn rupees ($21mn), with the port also expected to invest a further Rs3.4bn into the project.

The port at Kandla handled 9.32mn t of total cargo, including fertilizers, in April. It handled 110.1mn t of cargo in the April 2017 to March 2018 financial year.