The Nagapattinam port in Tamil Nadu will be upgraded as an all-weather, deep-water, direct berthing green-field port at a cost of Rs 380 crore.
This will give a major boost to the shipping trade in region, which, at present, has a choice in the form of the private Karaikal port in the neighbouring Puducherry.
Once upgraded, in the first year, the port will be able to 10 lakh tonnes of cargo and provide revenues of Rs 20 crore. In 25 years, the port will handle around 60 lakh tonnes earning revenue of Rs 120 crore, according to a State Government press release.
The port, situated at the Kaduvaiyaru River mouth, was once catering to the Singapore passenger trade.
This was suspended due to the passenger vessel meeting with a fire accident.
Due to the change in the Union Government policies, the import of food grains and fertilisers also got reduced.
Currently, small volumes of edible oil are imported.
Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd has constructed an open sea jetty near the northern port limit of this port to handle crude oil and petroleum products of their refinery located nearby.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa, in the release said that the development of Nagapattinam port will be a major boost to the industrial activities in the region. It will also ensure employment in the region.