Move aimed at increasing cargo handling capacity
The Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT) is planning to award projects worth Rs 1,690 crore over the next two years. The proposed investment would enable the port to increase its cargo handling capacity by another 20 million tonnes.
The port handled 22.41 million tonnes of cargo last year and had set a target of 22.81 million tonnes for the current financial year.
Speaking to Business Standard, GJ Rao, chairman, TPT, said that over the next two years the port would take up projects worth Rs 1,690 crore, of which some would be through the public private partnership (PPP) mode.
The port had called for tenders to develop North Cargo Berth III, which will be given on a built, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. The project is likely to attract investment worth Rs 332 crore.
On January 18, it has invite tender for dredging work on the main channel and across all the berths inside the port. TPT is planning to increase the draft to 12 mt from the current 10.7 mt with an investment of around Rs 400 crore.
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The port in the next 48 months would develop a second container terminal inside the premises with an investment of Rs 312 crore. The capacity of the project would be 600,000 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) a year.
The other projects include a construction of a Rs 65 crore shallow berth for handling construction equipment. “Once these projects are complete, it would add another 20 million tonnes to the port traffic,” said Rao.
This apart, the port is planning to invest in rail and road connectivity at a cost of Rs 200-250 crore.
“Though this will not increase the capacity, it will help the trade since the logistics system will improve,” said Rao.