M Angamuthu, Chairperson, Mumbai Port Authority
As part of its sustainable business strategy, Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) will be allowing private players in operation and maintenance of Indira Dock berths for carrying out clean cargo handling operations including marketing, administration and management.
“This is a kind of pioneering and innovative approach by Mumbai to bring and develop sustainable business plans. We have called for Expression of Interest (EoI) to attract the best available trade partners including the top players in the industry,’’ M Angamuthu, Chairperson, Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA), told businessline.
While the private operators have been allowed other ports so far, this will be the largest in number of berths and is likely to trigger interest among leading private players.
As of now, there are 29 berths in Indira Dock. Of these, excluding the berths allotted to the Cochin Shipyard and Indian Coast Guard, there are 22 berths available for cargo operations and open for bidding which is for handling of all types of import/export cargoes. The total cargo handled in Indira Dock berths in FY25 was 5.38 million tonnes by 401 vessels. The dominant commodity has been Iron and Steel, accounting more than 85 pc of total traffic handled at these berths.
The operations to be privatised will include berthing/unberthing of vessels, unloading of cargo and storage of cargo at the sheds/open area, delivery /loading of cargo in docks and export of cargo for shipment for all types of coastal /foreign cargo. There will be five years contract and extendable by another 5 years subject to satisfactory performance.
Rationale
“As on date, cargo operations in docks are fragmented, carried out by different agencies (Stevedores, CHBs, transporters etc). The O&M operator is expected to carry out integrated operations and rationalise allocation of resources, resulting in better efficiency in ship berth day output, reduced idling, better TRT and reduced cost, which would help in attracting more business,’’ Angamuthu said.
The private player may bring in better marketing initiatives, competitive market rates, better utilisation of berths and storage space, particularly inside lock gate and refurbishing storage areas, bringing in new/mechanised equipment.
MbPA has given time till December 15, 2025 to submit EoIs. Based on the responses to the EOI, tender shall be invited and it is expected to conclude the transaction by March 31, 2026.
Published on November 19, 2025
