Ennore port’s rail cargo handling capacity has quadrupled to 24 million tonnes a year with the commissioning of additional rail siding.

Railway siding The port’s connectivity to the rest of the rail network in the South and North have also improved with the commissioning of the Rs 51 crore railway siding today by the Union Minister of Shipping, G.K. Vasan.

The port, which could handle six rakes a day so far, will now be able to handle 24 rakes of bulk cargo by rail.

The shunting time and speed of handling will also improve. For now, the major bulk cargo is coal, officials said.

At the inaugural function, the Minister said by 2017, Ennore port’s capacity will more than double to 67 million tonnes of cargo annually.

A series of projects, including the 5 million tonne/year LNG terminal, 16 million tonne container terminal, two million tonne multi-cargo terminal and nine million tonne additional coal berth for the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, will be commissioned in the current Plan period, he said.

M. A. Bhaskarachar, Chairman and Managing Director, Ennore port, said rail infrastructure and improved connectivity are key elements in increasing the port’s capacity. Rail link will be further strengthened to improve the port’s evacuation and storage capacity.

P. K. Mishra, Divisional Manager, Southern Railways, said nearly half of the 24 million tonnes of cargo handled by Ennore port will be by rail.

The port has emerged a major hub of car exports, and OEMs are exploring opportunity to use rail transport to speed up exports.

> balaji.ar@thehindu.co.in

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