The proposal submitted by the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) received formal clearance from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on 25 March, 2026.

The redevelopment project will be implemented on a public-private partnership model under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) framework.

It involves dismantling the ageing infrastructure at Berth No. 9 and constructing a modern facility capable of handling key energy cargo such as crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

As part of the overhaul, the berth's draft depth will be increased from the existing 10.5 metres to 14 metres, with provision for a future expansion up to 19.8 metres.

This will allow the port to accommodate significantly larger vessels, including Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) of up to 2,00,000 deadweight tonnes.

Commenting on the development, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said, "This transformative project is a reflection of the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, under whom India's maritime infrastructure is being modernised at an unprecedented pace. By replacing ageing facilities with world-class marine infrastructure, enhancing cargo handling capacity to 10.90 MTPA, and enabling the handling of larger vessels including VLGCs, we are positioning our ports to meet future energy and trade demands while strengthening India's role as a global maritime leader."

The project, estimated to cost Rs 438.29 crore, will be executed by a private concessionaire selected through a competitive bidding process.

The facility will have a handling capacity of 10.90 million tonnes per annum, with a minimum guaranteed cargo commitment of 7.63 MTPA by the fifth year of operations.

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