Adani Shifts Krishnapatnam Port's Container Operations to Tamil Nadu, Sparking Andhra Protests

All container terminal operations at the Adani Group-owned Krishnapatnam Port are set to be relocated to Tamil Nadu by the end of January. The Krishnapatnam Port management has reportedly obtained necessary approvals from the Union government for this shift. The last container vessel is expected to arrive at Krishnapatnam Port on January 24, after which all container terminal activities will be moved to Kattupalli and Ennore ports in Tamil Nadu.

Once a major handler of container operations, Krishnapatnam Port has seen a decline in such activities, handling about 6 lakh containers per year between 2014 and 2019. This figure reduced to 4 lakh containers per year between 2019 and 2021, and further dropped to 1.5 lakh during 2021-23. Without a container terminal, the port is expected to focus mainly on handling bulk cargo like coal, iron ore, and ash.

The decision to shift container terminal operations from Krishnapatnam has raised concerns. TDP politburo member Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy expressed worry about potential job losses and a significant impact on the state exchequer. He criticized the state government for not addressing the issue with the Union government and announced that the TDP would organize protests against the container terminal's relocation, emphasizing the broader implications for thousands of livelihoods and port-based industries in the region.