Kandla–Thoothukudi route to launch weekly container service

A new weekly container service is being established between Deendayal Port in Kandla, Gujarat, and V. O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. This route serves as India’s first proposed Coastal Green Shipping Corridor, an initiative identified by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to promote cleaner maritime transport and green-fuel infrastructure.

The Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Ltd. (IPRCL) has issued a tender for shipping companies to operate the service. The operation is expected to require two container vessels, each with a minimum capacity of 1,000 TEUs, to maintain the weekly frequency. The estimated round-trip voyage is approximately 14 days, with an initial proposed operational period of six months that could extend up to two years.

Potential cargo flows include raw cotton and chemicals from Gujarat, as well as solar panels, tyres, and machinery spares from Tamil Nadu. The project, estimated to cost approximately ₹150 crore, aims to enhance domestic maritime logistics by providing a regular alternative to road-based transport between western and southern India.