ChPA Chief Engineer (HoD) Recruitment 2026

Chennai Port Authority (ChPA) is filling 1 Chief Engineer (Head of Department) post in its Civil Engineering Department. This vacancy is not open to the general public — only serving officers of Major Port Authorities across India who meet the Recruitment Rules criteria can apply through the Composite Method (Absorption). The last date for your Port to forward your application to Chennai Port Authority is 11 September 2026. The post carries a starting pay scale of Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 2,60,000 per month, rising to Rs. 1,20,000 to Rs. 2,80,000 after 3 years of regular service.

Chennai Port Authority (ChPA) Chief Engineer (HoD) Recruitment 2026 - 1 Post

Chennai Port Authority (ChPA), which functions under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has invited applications to fill the post of Chief Engineer (Head of Department) in its Civil Engineering Department. The post is expected to fall vacant from 1 January 2027 and will be filled by absorption from eligible officers currently serving in Major Port Authorities across India (except Kamarajar Port). As one of India's Major Ports on the east coast, ChPA plays a key role in cargo handling and is linked to the government's Sagarmala and PM GatiShakti multi-modal connectivity programmes, which makes the Civil Engineering Department's leadership role an important one. Selection is purely on merit — your overall grading in the ACRs/APARs of the last 5 years must not be below "Very Good" for you to be considered.

Who Can Apply?

• Eligibility: You must be a serving officer of a Major Port Authority (except Kamarajar Port) who meets the qualification and experience criteria laid down in the Recruitment Rules (Annexure-I) attached to the official notification.
• Not for outside candidates: This post is not open to fresh graduates or candidates from outside the ports sector — only in-service officers eligible under the RR can apply.
• Merit requirement: Your overall grading in ACRs/APARs for the last 5 years (2021-22 to 2025-26) must be "Very Good" or above.
• Crucial date: Your eligibility will be assessed as on 1 January 2027, the date the vacancy arises.
• Conduct record: If any major or minor penalty was imposed on you in the last 10 years, the disciplinary case details must be forwarded along with your application.
• Incomplete applications: Applications that are incomplete, do not follow the prescribed procedure, or are received after the due date will not be considered.

Salary

• On appointment, you will get a starting pay scale of Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 2,60,000 per month (Revised; pre-revised Rs. 43,200 - 66,000).
• After completing 3 years of regular service in the post, your pay moves up to Rs. 1,20,000 to Rs. 2,80,000 per month (pre-revised Rs. 51,300 - 73,000), subject to fulfilling the Ministry's conditions.
• You will also get DA, HRA and other allowances as admissible to Major Port Authority officers.

Selection Process

ChPA will select the Chief Engineer (HoD) through the following process. There is no written examination for this post — selection is based entirely on your service record and merit:

1. Eligibility Screening: Your application and documents are checked against the Recruitment Rules criteria.
2. ACR/APAR Grading Check: Your last 5 years' performance grading must be "Very Good" or higher.
3. Vigilance and Administrative Clearance: Your parent Port must certify that you have no pending disciplinary or vigilance issues.
4. Selection by Service Selection Committee: Final selection is made by the Committee purely on merit.

If you withdraw your candidature after being selected, you will be debarred from HoD-level posts in all Major Port Authorities for 2 years.

How to Apply

1. Go to the Online Application Portal (OAP) of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways at onlinevacancy.shipmin.nic.in.
2. Fill in and submit your application online — no application outside the OAP will be accepted.
3. Take a printout of your submitted OAP application.
4. Attach your ACRs/APARs for the last 5 years (or a "No Report Certificate" for any pending year), attested qualification and experience certificates, a No Objection Certificate from your Port, a Head of Office certificate, an undertaking not to withdraw your candidature, Vigilance/Administrative Clearance, and 2 passport-size colour photographs.
5. Submit the printout with all documents to your administrative Port, superscribing the envelope "Application for the post of Chief Engineer, Chennai Port Authority".
6. Your Port must forward your complete application to Chennai Port Authority, No. 1, Rajaji Salai, Chennai - 600 001, by 11 September 2026.
7. If your ACR/APAR, vigilance report or other documents are still being processed, your Port can still forward your application through proper channel before the due date, and send the pending documents separately without delay.
8. If time is short, your Port may forward your application by email before the deadline, followed by the complete set of documents by registered post — but your candidature will only be considered if the application also reaches Chennai Port Authority through proper channel within 15 days of the last date.

For any queries, you can contact Chennai Port Authority at +91-44-2531 2000 / +91-44-2536 2201 or visit www.chennaiport.gov.in.

Important Dates

• Last Date for Your Port to Forward Application: 11 September 2026
• Final Cut-off for Receipt via Proper Channel: Within 15 days of 11 September 2026
• Vacancy Arising Date: 1 January 2027

• Head the Civil Engineering Department of Chennai Port Authority
• Plan and supervise construction, repair and maintenance of port civil infrastructure such as wharves, berths, buildings and roads
• Prepare technical estimates, tenders and project reports for civil works
• Monitor project quality, cost and schedule for ongoing port infrastructure projects
• Coordinate with other departments and Ministry officials on port infrastructure and connectivity projects
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality and environmental standards at project sites
• Supervise and guide junior engineers and technical staff in the department
• Report the progress of civil works to the Port Chairperson and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways