Essar Ports Awarded Letter of Award for Tuna Tekra Multipurpose Cargo Terminal
Essar Ports has secured a Letter of Award (LOA) for the Tuna Tekra Multipurpose Cargo Terminal at Kandla, Gujarat, with the contract valued at Rs 2,276 crore (approximately US$240 million). The award was reported on 21–22 October 2026 across multiple industry outlets, with the LOA confirmation coming directly from Essar on 21 October 2026.
The project is located at Tuna Tekra, within the Kandla port area in Gujarat, one of India's major cargo-handling hubs on the western coastline.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Project | Tuna Tekra Multipurpose Cargo Terminal |
| Contractor / Awardee | Essar Ports |
| Location | Kandla, Gujarat |
| Contract Value | Rs 2,276 crore (US$240 million) |
| Award Instrument | Letter of Award (LOA) |
| Reported | 21–22 October 2026 |
Value Reporting Across Sources
Three of the four outlets that covered this award are in agreement on the rupee value: Construction Week India, ProjectsMonitor and Essar's own release all place the contract at Rs 2,276 crore. Construction Review reported the figure in US dollar terms as US$240 million. The two figures are consistent at prevailing exchange rates and are treated here as corroborating one another rather than as a discrepancy.
Gujarat's Position in India's Infrastructure Pipeline
Gujarat is an active state for large-scale infrastructure investment. Projects India tracks 383 live projects in the Aviation Infrastructure sub-sector, of which 28 are located in Gujarat — placing the state third nationally in that category, behind Maharashtra (70 projects) and Uttar Pradesh (30 projects). Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh follow with 26 and 24 projects respectively.
Across the broader Infrastructure Projects sector, Gujarat continues to attract significant capital commitments, with port and cargo-handling assets forming a core component of the state's logistics development agenda.
Stage Breakdown: Where the Pipeline Stands Nationally
Of the 383 Aviation Infrastructure projects tracked by Projects India, the largest cohort — 173 projects — remains at the Under Approvals stage, representing a substantial pipeline of future contract opportunities. A further 70 are at Planning stage and 11 are Early or Announced. Projects already in active Construction number 87, while 21 have reached Completion and 11 have received Approvals but not yet commenced construction.
Four new projects were added to the Aviation Infrastructure tracking database in the 90 days preceding this report, indicating steady if measured expansion of the monitored pipeline. All tracked projects can be reviewed on the Projects India platform.
What this means for suppliers and contractors
The Tuna Tekra LOA signals that procurement and construction activity for a large multipurpose cargo terminal at Kandla is moving into an executable phase. Suppliers of heavy civil construction materials, marine engineering equipment, bulk-handling systems and port infrastructure components should monitor this project for sub-contract and supply opportunities as Essar Ports advances towards construction mobilisation.
More broadly, the stage data above is instructive for business development planning. With 173 projects nationally still at the Under Approvals stage and a further 70 at Planning, the forward order book for infrastructure suppliers across India remains substantial. Gujarat alone hosts 28 tracked projects, making it a priority geography for contractors and equipment makers looking to position early. Suppliers active in adjacent port and logistics segments may also find relevant opportunities by monitoring the wider Infrastructure Projects pipeline.
For those tracking tender activity, Projects India's live tenders page carries current open procurement across infrastructure sub-sectors.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Tuna Tekra terminal project at Kandla?
Essar Ports secured the Letter of Award for the Tuna Tekra Multipurpose Cargo Terminal at Kandla, Gujarat. The contract was reported on 21–22 October 2026 and is valued at Rs 2,276 crore, equivalent to approximately US$240 million.
What is the value of the Tuna Tekra terminal contract?
The Tuna Tekra Multipurpose Cargo Terminal contract awarded to Essar Ports is valued at Rs 2,276 crore, as reported by Construction Week India, ProjectsMonitor and Essar. Construction Review reported the equivalent US dollar figure of US$240 million.
Where is the Tuna Tekra terminal project located?
The Tuna Tekra Multipurpose Cargo Terminal is located at Kandla in Gujarat, India. Gujarat currently has 28 live infrastructure projects tracked in the Aviation Infrastructure sub-sector, placing it third nationally by project count.
