V O Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) launches India’s first Digital Twin platform for major ports

Key facts

• V O Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, became the first major port in India to implement a comprehensive Digital Twin platform for port management.
• Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the platform on 23 February 2026 as part of infrastructure projects worth over ₹1,500 crore at the port.
• The Digital Twin platform creates a real-time virtual replica of the port’s infrastructure, operational assets and maritime ecosystem using IoT sensors, GPS tracking, LiDAR mapping, drone imaging and CCTV networks.
• The system enables real-time monitoring of berth occupancy, vessel movements, crane utilisation and yard capacity, and supports predictive maintenance of cargo handling equipment through AI-based asset monitoring.
• The platform facilitates berth and traffic optimisation, reduces congestion and waiting time, and provides energy and emissions tracking for sustainability management.
• From April 2025 to January 2026, VOCPA handled 35.97 million tonnes of cargo, up six per cent year-on-year, including a record four million tonnes in January 2026.
• Container volumes rose 9.4 per cent to more than 716,000 TEUs during the same period.
• VOCPA has also installed an advanced anti-drone system to strengthen security of critical infrastructure.