Chennai: The Chennai Port Trust has been included as the third port rail connectivity project under the Centre’s ambitious Sagarmala project which aims at developing the port infrastructure along the country’s 7,500 km coastline.
The Union shipping ministry has awarded this third connectivity project (after two in Vishakapatnam) to the Indian Port Rail Company Limited (IPRCL) to lay new railway track at west of western yard 1 and providing paving block platform in between new track and western yard 1.
The overall cost of this project is Rs 12.68 crore and the work is expected to be completed by April, 2017. In addition, Tamil Nadu is poised to get numerous projects totalling over Rs 80,000 crore pertaining to port and industrial investments.
Under the Centre’s flagship Sagarmala — meaning a string of ports along India’s coast covering 13 states, project aims at promoting economic zones. TN will get an LNG terminal at Ennore at a cost of about Rs 3,000 crore and a North Cargo Berth, a foodgrain berth, an additional container berth and a coal jetty are planned at Tuticorin Port.
The Centre’s proposal to establish a port at Colachel in Kanyakumari district, would further enhance the prospects of this project. TN will be a huge beneficiary under Sagarmala, a Rs 4 lakh crore programme of the Narendra Modi Government envisaging port-led development while taking forward the dream project of former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee.
The government hopes to complete this 10-year project in five years’ time. The project also includes modernisation of ports and islands, setting up coastal economic zones and new major ports and fishing harbours.
On the pipeline is to develop the ports at Sirkali and work at Sirkali and Colachel ports are expected to commence within two years. Also, inland waterways at all the major rivers: Thamaraibarani, Manimuthar, Cauvery, Palar, Vaigai and the Bhavani would be developed, said sources.
