The Chennai Port Trust has drawn up plans to compensate the loss it would incur due to the Madras High Court’s order to vacate coal and iron ore from the port.
The port would be losing around 18 million tonnes due to the HC order, the revenue of which would be around Rs 226 crore a year, said Chennai Port Trust chairman Atulya Misra .
Later, speaking to reporters after discussing trade problems at the port with industry representatives, shipping minister GK Vasan said a committee headed by Capt Mohan had submitted its report. The key recommendations include handling of clean cargoes like containers, cars, cruise, project cargo, food, fertiliser and wood.
Stating that all the recommendation would be implemented, Vasan said congestion connectivity would also be addressed in a time-bound frame apart from withdrawing surcharge.
Work on the Chennai-Ennore connectivity would be completed by next June, he said.
To a question on promoting coastal shipping, Vasan said the ministry was in the process of discussing a coastal policy.
According to him, 22 projects worth Rs 16,000 crore are in the process across the ports of which, 5-6 will be materialised by the end of March. This includes the Rs 6,700-crore JNPT project.
Misra said the port handled quarter of a million fertiliser traffic, which will be increased to 1-2 million. Besides, it is also planning to set up a car parking space for general public in public-private partnership.
