The economic slowdown will not hamper the cargo growth of the Chennai port during the current fiscal. The port will handle a record 62 million tonnes cargo for the year ending March 31, 2010, a 10 per cent growth, according to Capt Subash Kumar, Chairman, Chennai Port Trust.

Speaking at the two-day Southern Region Shipping Conclave organised by
the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Capt Kumar said
handling of iron ore and coal declined in the last two quarters, but is
showing improvement.

Handling of container and ‘other cargo’ has shown significant improvement.

In fact, container handling during the fiscal is likely to cross 1.20 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units), he said.

On the Mega Container Terminal to be developed by the Port Trust at a
cost of Rs 3,686 crore, Capt Kumar said, “The project, recently cleared
by the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Committee, will have a quay
length of 2 km, making it one of the biggest terminals in India.

Eleven companies have shown interest in the project.

A hearing was held recently with the Tariff Authority for Major Ports to discuss the tariff.

Once the upfront tariff is finalised, the Port Trust will seek price bids from the short-listed companies in March, he said.

Road connectivity

The ChPT Chairman said the elevated road corridor project connecting
Chennai port with Muduravoyal would be crucial for the Mega Container
Terminal project for the movement of containers in and out of the port.

“If the elevated project does not come up, there is no point discussing about the mega terminal,” he said.

Rail connectivity

Capt Kumar said as part of the port development, internal railway lines
are being augmented for the evacuation of containers from the port.
Third and fourth railway lines are being developed by the Southern
Railway to improve connectivity to the port and the rail share of
container movement to 30 per cent from the current 7 per cent. The rest
will be moved by road, he said. The biggest advantage of the Jawaharlal
Nehru Port is an efficient railway system that gives fixed day train
schedule to users. Similarly, Chennai will have a railway line in
future, he said.

Source: Hindu Business Line

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