Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal (DBGT)
About DBGT
DBGT is a container terminal at V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tuticorin), India, operated by Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal Pvt. Ltd. It has an installed capacity of 0.72 million TEUs and handled 0.66 million TEUs in FY25.
Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal (DBGT) is located at Berth No. 8 of the V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Tuticorin. DBGT began operations in May 2014. The terminal is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the VOC Port Authority and Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal Pvt. Ltd. The private consortium is led by India Ports and Logistics Pvt. Ltd. (51% stake) and Africa Global Logistics (AGL) (49% stake). AGL was acquired by the MSC Group in 2022, effectively bringing the world’s largest shipping line into the partnership. MSC is in the process of acquiring a stake in DBGT. The terminal is currently utilised at nearly 92%, prompting the VOC Port Authority to accelerate the conversion of Berth No. 9 into a third container terminal to handle the spillover. DBGT serves as a link for trade between the Far East and Europe. Wan Hai and IALA operate weekly services connecting Tuticorin to Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, and Port Klang. Shuttle services to Colombo and Male remain the terminal’s backbone for transhipment. In December 2025, the terminal handled its first major EXIM transhipment, moving cargo from Madagascar to New Mangalore via Tuticorin. The terminal maintains 8 weekly sailings to Colombo and direct connectivity to ports in China, Vietnam, and Africa. DBGT has a dedicated service lane connecting the port rail siding to the terminal yard.
Facilities & infrastructure
- The terminal’s capacity has been expanded to handle mother vessels
- The terminal has a permissible draft of 14.2 m and a 345 m quay length
- The terminal utilises the Navis N4 Terminal Operating System for real-time yard and vessel planning
- Integration with the Logistics Data Bank (LDB) enables single-window container tracking
Why shippers choose DBGT
- MSC’s stake in AGL could attract substantial cargo volumes
- This partnership has transformed Tuticorin from a feeder port into a mainline destination with direct calls to Europe and China/Vietnam
- MSC vessels enjoy priority. DBGT is the closest major Indian terminal to the East-West International Sea Route
- According to the LDB Analytics Report (2025), DBGT is the top-performing terminal in South India
- The Smart Gate System allows trucks a Turnaround Time (TAT) of 20 minutes, the fastest in the country
- In 2024–25, DBGT reduced its import cycle dwell time by 13.7%, below that of ports such as Chennai or Cochin
Shipping lines & services
Hinterland connectivity
Rail & road
DBGT is highly favoured by inland shippers for its integrated rail facilities, which bypass external road congestion. The terminal features a dedicated rail siding that enables the simultaneous handling of two full container rakes. DBGT is directly linked to 12–15 ICDs. CONCOR operates regular rakes between DBGT and ICD Milavittan. Road transport is the terminal’s primary evacuation mode. NH-45B provides a direct link to major industrial clusters in Madurai, Trichy, and Chennai. GatewayRail operates rakes for high-volume customers between the Tuticorin cluster and ICDs in Northern India. Adani Logistics carries cement and minerals for specific clients.
CFS & warehousing
There are 16 CFSs within a 13 km radius of the terminal. CONCOR and CWC have CFS facilities here.
Throughput FY22–FY25
Units: Lakh TEUs (as reported).
Frequently asked questions
Who operates DBGT?
DBGT is operated by Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal Pvt. Ltd.
What is the capacity of DBGT?
Installed capacity is 0.72 million TEUs. Throughput in FY25 was 0.66 million TEUs, or 92% utilisation.
What is the port code for DBGT?
The UN/LOCODE-style port code is INTUT.
Where is DBGT located?
DBGT is located at Berth No. VIII, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Tuticorin – 628 004, Tamil Nadu, India.
How is DBGT connected by rail and road?
DBGT has a dedicated rail siding that can handle two full container rakes at once and is directly linked to 12–15 ICDs. NH-45B links it to Madurai, Trichy and Chennai.
Which CFS facilities serve DBGT?
There are 16 CFSs within a 13 km radius of the terminal. CONCOR and CWC have CFS facilities here.
In the news
Classification
Source: South Asia Container Market Report 2026, p. 45. Last updated Jan 2026.
