Chennai Port to take up Rs 10,000 cr worth projects in 10 yrs

Chennai, Jan 19 (PTI) Twentynine infrastructure developmentprojects at a total cost of Rs 10,000 crore would be taken upby the Chennai Port Trust (CPT)over the next 10 years, UnionShipping Minister G K Vasan said today.

"Twentynine new projects worth Rs 10,000 crore will betaken up in the next ten years by the CPT where Cargo handlingis expected to reach 140 million tonnes (during this period)",he said inaugurating the Rs 600 crore Chennai Ennore Port RoadConnectivity Project.

The new projects include proposed multi-level car parkingterminal and four lane road project, he said.

He said the Chennai Ennore Port Road Connectivity Projectwould be completed in two years. The project cost was revisedfrom Rs 309 crore to Rs 600 crore.

CPT would contribute Rs 139.80 crore towards equity and Rs110.68 crore as loan. However, the Shipping Ministry and CPThad committed to enhance funding for the project. In the pasttwo months, Chennai Port has contributed Rs 29 crore.

So far, Chennai and Ennore Ports have contributed Rs 67crore and Rs 13.75 crore as equity share. The NationalHighways Authority of India has issued the work order valuedto be of Rs 253.47 crore.

The project includes the Ennore Expressway which would bea 7.5 kms stretch, Manali Road 5.4 kms, Inner Ring Road eightkms Tiruvottiyur-Ponneri of nine kms.

Once the project is completed, North Chennai would be freefrom traffic congestion which would also benefit the ChennaiPort for the easy evacuation of cargo.