Chennai Port achieves record turnover of Rs 890 cr in 07-08

New Delhi, Jun 25 (UNI) Chennai Port has registered a record turnover of Rs 890.40 crore in 2007-08 from Rs 413.51 crore in 2003-04, up by a record 115.3 per cent.

This was revealed at a review meeting of the performance and development projects of Chennai Port Trust taken by Union Shipping, Road, Transport and Highways Minister T R Baalu here today.

The increased turnover has enabled the port to take up larger number of capacity augmentation projects.

The minister also reviewed the progress of the proposed mega terminal at Chennai with a draft of 22 meter which is coming up with an investment of Rs 3,105 crore to handle ultra large container ships of 18,000 TEU at the port. Mr Baalu was informed that the project has generated considerable interest among the prospective bidders and nearly 40 private players have participated in the pre-bid meeting.

Regarding construction of a dry port (container freight station) at Sriperumbudur, the minister directed the officials to get in touch with the state government for allotment of 100 acres of land and also get the feasibility study done for construction of elevated corridor from Maduravoyal to proposed dry port in order to have a seamless movement of cargo. This is one of the three container freight stations planned by Chennai Port Trust.

Chennai Port now plans to build a RoRo Terminal and multi-level car parking for export of cars from the port and developing a cruise terminal in Chennai for domestic and international tourists. He further directed that the second container terminal with a capacity of 1.3 million TEUs, which is under construction with an investment of Rs 495 crore must be completed within this year itself.

With its operationalisation, Chennai Port's position as hub port for containers on the east coast would be further strengthened.

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