V.O. Chidambaranar Port at Tuticorin has a Rs 9,859.45 crore outer harbour package out to tender, covering a breakwater, rock bund, wharf, capital dredging and reclamation, with bids closing on 30 September 2026.
What the VOC Port outer harbour tender covers
This is the marine civil core of the outer harbour project at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, the major port at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. The official title lists the work in this order:
construction of the breakwater and a rock bund
a new wharf
capital dredging, with the dredged material used for reclamation of a backup yard
allied onshore facilities
maintenance of the works for the contract period
The contract is on the Hybrid Annuity Model, so the winning bidder builds with part of the cost paid during construction and recovers the rest as annuities over the maintenance years. The tender first went up on 27 December 2025 and has carried several corrigenda since, so the bid documents on the portal are the version to price from.
Who this is for
At close to ten thousand crore this is an EPC-scale job for marine contractors with breakwater and dredging credentials, often in a joint venture. The earnest money alone is Rs 116.34 crore. Smaller firms still have a way in: a breakwater of this size eats quarried armour rock by the lakh of tonnes, and the haulage, rock handling and onshore earthwork are usually let out to local subcontractors from the Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar belt.
Checking the numbers
The EMD of Rs 1,16,34,15,100 works out to about 1.18% of the Rs 9,859.45 crore estimate, which is in the normal range. The tender fee is Rs 11,63,416.
Machines a job like this keeps busy
The breakwater and rock bund are built with long-reach and heavy excavators placing armour stone, fed by a fleet of dumpers and tippers from the quarries. Crawler cranes handle the heavier armour units and the wharf piling. Capital dredging is done by cutter suction or trailing suction hopper dredgers, and reclamation of the backup yard then needs dozers, a motor grader and vibratory rollers to spread and compact the fill. The wharf deck and onshore buildings bring batching plants, transit mixers and concrete pumps onto the site.
Key facts
Tender ID
2025_VOCPT_260720_1
Reference no.
CIV-OFCPD-PRJ-DEVEL-D4101
Issuing authority
V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Civil Department
Location
Outer Harbour, V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Thoothukudi (Tuticorin), Tamil Nadu
What is included in the VOC Port outer harbour tender?
A breakwater, a rock bund, a wharf, capital dredging with reclamation of a backup yard, allied onshore facilities and maintenance of the works, under the outer harbour development at V.O. Chidambaranar Port.
What is the estimated value and EMD?
The estimate is Rs 9,859.45 crore and the EMD is Rs 1,16,34,15,100. The tender fee is Rs 11,63,416.
Which contract model does the port use?
The Hybrid Annuity Model, where part of the project cost is paid during construction and the balance is paid as annuities with maintenance obligations.
When do bids close and open?
Bids close on 30 September 2026 at 3:00 PM and open on 1 October 2026 at 3:30 PM on the Central Public Procurement Portal.
Tender details are summarised for convenience and may change. Always verify the latest dates, terms and documents on the official tendering portal before bidding. DesiMachines is not responsible for changes made by the issuing authority.
Bidding with your own machines?Tenders often ask for machine papers such as the RC, insurance and invoice. Keep them in one private place on My Machine and get a reminder before insurance or service falls due. Free.
Desi Machines is a platform where you can see and compare construction equipment. It showcases images, brochures, features, technical specifications, brand details & dealer information. All these are taken from respective brand websites, brochures, and other public resources. We do not claim ownership of these materials and strive to ensure their accuracy. However, the disparity may happen and we advise users to verify directly with respective brands and dealers. Desi Machines is not liable for any inaccuracies or reliance on the information provided. Use of this website is at your own discretion.
Excavator
294 models 
Backhoe Loader
51 models 
Crane
68 models 
Concrete Mixer
79 models 
Wheel Loader
54 models 
Compactor / Roller
45 models 
Motor Grader
42 models 
Concrete Pump
66 models 
Skid Steer Loader
11 models 
Telehandler
13 models 
Dozer 
