VOCPA hosts ‘AI-Powered Ports’ session at India AI Impact Summit 2026

The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) hosted a pioneering session titled “AI-Powered Ports: Reimagining Efficiency and Operations” at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held on February 17 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Conceived as a first-of-its-kind initiative by an Indian port, the session marked a significant step in aligning India’s maritime infrastructure with the country’s broader artificial intelligence transformation.
The programme was co-organised in collaboration with the Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP), bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and infrastructure experts.
The deliberations moved beyond the conventional “Smart Ports” framework to introduce the concept of “Thinking Ports”—maritime hubs that integrate AI into governance, logistics and long-term strategic planning rather than limiting its role to automation.
Speakers discussed how AI-enabled systems can improve operational efficiency, enable predictive maintenance, optimise cargo flows and strengthen trade facilitation. They emphasised that embedding intelligence within port infrastructure is essential for India’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
The panel featured Prof. Dr.Gourav Vallabh, Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister; T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, Former Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Susanta Kumar Purohit, Chairperson, VOCPA; Manish Jaiswal, CTO, J M Baxi Group; Subrat Tripathy, Advisor, Adani Group; Rajesh Soundararajan, IAS, Deputy Chairperson, VOCPA; Dr. Manish Tiwari, Director, IGPP; and Aprajita Rana, Partner, AZB & Partners.
The summit engagement followed VOCPA’s AI-focused pre-summit hosted in Thoothukudi on February 9, reaffirming its commitment to innovation-led transformation of India’s port
ecosystem.