The Union government has planned to undertake the outer harbour expansion project at the port under the Gati Shakti scheme, at a total estimated cost of Rs 7,500 crore, according to VO Chidambaranar Port Authority Chairman TV Ramachandran.
Ramachandran said digging a draft of 18 metres, according to the outer harbour project, will enable the capability of the terminals to handle vessels ranging from 18,000 TEUs (unit of cargo capacity) to 20,000 TEUs, and a capacity augmentation of 4.10 million TEUs.
He added,”Apart from this, other initiatives proposed under Gati Shakti include development of berths 1, 2, 3, and 4 at an investment of Rs 2455.4 crore, conversion of berths 5 and 6 as bulk terminals at an investment of Rs 254 crore, development of multi-modal logistics park, and commissioning of a desalination plant at an investment of Rs 144 crore.”
