Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone laid for three projects worth Rs 582 crore at Kamarajar port at Ennore, Tamil Nadu on 07 December, 2024.

The foundation stones were laid for Capital Dredging Phase-VI entailing an investment of Rs 520 crore to dredge the port’s berth to 18 mtrs. draft from the present 16 mtrs. to attract such large size vessels; a one MLD sea water reverse osmosis desalination plant of Rs 37 crore and an integrated command and control centre at a cost of Rs 25 crore.

These were launched at a function as part of the port’s silver jubilee celebration.

The scope was expanded taking into account subsequent developments such as the plan of Tamil Nadu government to set up a 1,880 MW LNG power project in association with a private consortium, a large petrochemical park and a naphtha cracker plant.

The first phase of the port main construction work which iincluded two berths, dredging for the approach channel, onshore civil works, two breakwaters and Kamarajar Port was commissioned by the then Prime Minister of India on 01 February, 2001.

Commercial operations commenced with Handymax geared vessels for unloading of thermal coal in June 2001.