Chennai mega terminal project gets go ahead

The Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) Board has approved a US$787.77 million mega container terminal project that will make the port the leading container terminal hub on the east coast, reported the Deccan Chronicle.

The project, with a holding capacity of five million containers, will have a 2-km-long quay to handle ultra-large container vessels.

“The project has been approved and the tender will be awarded in two months. The first phase of the project will be commissioned by 2013 and it will take not less than seven years for the completion of the whole project,” said Subash Kumar, chairman of ChPT.

Two new breakwaters, 2.75 km long in the eastern side and 1.73 km on the northern side, will be built for the mega container terminal project with a depth of 22m. The 2km-long quay will also need 90 hectare of reclaimed land.

Kumar added that the work of the Port-Maduravoyal connectivity project will have a major role in the further development of Chennai port and its various trade expansion plans.

“The completion of the Port-Maduravoyal connectivity project is necessary to resolve the trade problems. As there is a steady increase in the amount of cargo handling, we needed an effective transportation system to handle cargo movements from the city port and it is the only solution to handle both vehicle and cargo movements in the city traffic,” he added.

“Both Ennore and Maduravoyal express highway projects are immediate necessities for the Chennai port, especially when the port is about to start the works on a mega container terminal and dry port facilities,” said P. Krishnamoorthy, trustee of Chennai port.
(Source:www.cargonewsasia.com)