DP World CEO Yuvraj Narayan told The Times of India on Thursday that the company will pour $4 billion into new container terminals in India, including a flagship project at Tuna Tekra in Gujarat and a depot in Dadri, as part of a strategy to diversify after the Strait of Hormuz shutdown.
Narayan explained that the closure has slashed the port’s throughput to about 10 % of normal, forcing the company to reroute cargo through Khorfakkan and Fujairah. The firm is already building a new port in Fujairah to add capacity outside the strait, but the costs of operating in this new configuration will rise sharply, he warned.
The Indian investment will add roughly 20,000 TEU of annual capacity, with the Tuna Tekra terminal expected to be operational by mid‑2026. Narayan said the project will also feature an inland container depot in Dadri, a ₹2,000‑crore investment that will cement a north‑south supply corridor for electronics exporters like Apple, which already ships about 500 t of cargo per week to India.
Industry analysts say the move will reduce dependence on Middle‑East routes and lower shipping costs for Indian manufacturers, but they caution that the higher insurance and fuel expenses will eventually be passed on to consumers. The Indian Ministry of Commerce has welcomed the plans, noting that the new ports will be critical for the Make‑In‑India agenda.
Construction is slated to begin in September, with the first phase of Tuna Tekra expected to be ready for service by May 2026. DP World will monitor the Strait of Hormuz situation closely and is prepared to shift cargo flows if tensions rise again.