Chennai, Oct 13:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for port infrastructure projects worth approximately ₹1,100 crore at Chennai, Kamarajar and V.O. Chidambaranar ports in Tamil Nadu. The projects are aimed at improving cargo-handling capacity, strengthening logistics infrastructure and supporting the State’s export and import activities.
The initiatives cover three major ports serving different economic regions of Tamil Nadu. While Chennai Port caters to a wide range of commercial cargo and passenger cruise operations, Kamarajar Port at Ennore plays an important role in handling industrial cargo, including coal. V.O. Chidambaranar Port at Thoothukudi serves as a key maritime gateway for southern Tamil Nadu.
At Chennai Port, four projects worth ₹158.17 crore were inaugurated. The facilities include four new warehouses for handling export and import goods and improvements to the terminal used by passengers arriving on cruise ships.
The additional warehousing infrastructure is expected to improve the storage and handling of cargo moving through the port. The upgraded cruise terminal is intended to improve facilities for international cruise passengers and help attract more luxury cruise vessels to Chennai.
At Kamarajar Port, a dedicated coal-handling platform built at a cost of ₹261 crore was inaugurated. The facility has been established to handle coal imported by the Tamil Nadu electricity generation utility. The dedicated infrastructure is expected to improve the handling of coal shipments and increase the port’s capacity to manage this important industrial commodity.
Coal imports are essential for thermal power generation, and efficient handling of such cargo can help improve the movement of fuel from vessels to storage and onward transportation. The new facility is expected to strengthen the port’s role in supporting the State’s energy requirements.
At V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Thoothukudi, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a new container terminal to be developed at a cost of ₹517.19 crore. The project is expected to strengthen container-handling facilities at the port, which serves southern Tamil Nadu and neighbouring regions.
The proposed terminal is intended to improve the port’s capacity to handle containerised cargo and support the movement of goods for industries in the southern districts. Improved infrastructure could also help businesses manage export and import consignments more efficiently.
Taken together, the projects are expected to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s maritime infrastructure by improving cargo movement, storage and passenger facilities. Their wider impact will depend on the timely completion of construction, effective utilisation of the new facilities and growth in trade volumes.
The investment also highlights the importance of the State’s three major ports in supporting industrial development, trade and logistics. Better port connectivity and cargo-handling capacity could help businesses reduce delays and improve the movement of goods to domestic and international markets.