V O Chidambaranar Port in Thoothukudi has handled one per cent more cargo during the last four months compared to the corresponding period of the earlier year.

Disclosing this during the Independence Day address, S. Natarajan, Deputy Chairman of the VOC Port, said the cargo volumes being handled at the port was growing at a steady pace, despite the slowdown.

The port has handled 9.54 million tones in the last four months.

Cargoes handled include thermal and industrial coal, petroleum and oil products, fertiliser and fertiliser raw materials, pulses, raw sugar, edible oil, construction materials and machineries (wind mill accessories).

“The Inner Harbour Development Programme has been taken up on a war footing; we are planning to construct North Cargo Berth II and III, two shallow water berths for handling general cargo, conversion of 8th berth into a container terminal and so on. Mechanisation of the cargo handling work is underway. These projects have been cleared by the Government. On completion of the work, the capacity of the port will reach 61.78 million tones per annum,’’ Natarajan said.

Related Topics