High-voltage electricity cables have come to be part of the landscape on the way to Thoothukudi Port, just like the saltpans that spans below the lines. The coastal town has become a source of power for the entire Tamil Nadu with a host of thermal power plants in its vicinity including the Tuticorin Thermal Power Station, Neyveli Lignite Corporation’s thermal plant and Mutiara Thermal Power Plant. All thanks to the V.O. Chidambaranar Port.
The thermal plants benefit from their proximity to the port. The Tuticorin plant is so close to the port that the coal unloaded from ships is transported through a conveyor belt-like system to the plant.
Kerala has a lot to learn from the Thoothukudi. The port draws cargo even from Kerala, which has a major port in Kochi. This challenge will only increase.
Apart from the thermal power plants, the Thoothukudi port is surrounded by scores of factories. Chemical plants of Spic and DCW Ltd, factories such as the one by V.V. Minerals, timbre yards, LPG terminals, granite yards and salt making units have made the port town their home. Rows of warehouses start appearing much ahead of the port on the Chennai-Thoothukudi National Highway.
Over Rs 40,000 crore has been invested on thermal plants alone. Many projects are in the development stage. The Neyveli Lignite Corporation’s plant has an investment of Rs 4,910 crore. The port offers all facilities to import coal.
Electricity plants need towers and lines to transport it. Chemicals and natural gas producers need pipelines. When Kerala struggles to transport natural gas to its factories from the Kochi port, Thoothukudi has a network of pipelines to transport LPG and chemicals to the surrounding factories. The business community knows how to utilize the port and its facilities.
The government also pitches in. The Tamil Nadu government has asked the central government to allot it one more coal block as its thermal power plants consume more fuel.
The Thoothukudi port handled a record 3.24 crore tons in the last financial year, an increase of 13.17 percent from the previous financial year. While imports have reached 2.4 crore tons, exports have risen to 84 lakh tons. Container handling rose 10.24 percent. About 5.60 lakh TEU containers pass through Thoothukudi.
Compare the figures with Vallarpadam Container Transshipment Terminal, which handles only a third of its capacity of 10 lakh containers. The Thoothukudi container terminal is operated by Singapore-based PSA Sical. Plans are afoot to build another container terminal at a cost of Rs 300 crore.
There are direct mainline services to Europe and Americas from the port. Thoothukudi’s strategic position brings it near the international shipping channel. Thoothukudi was declared a major port in 1974. Work on the container terminal started in 1999. In 2011, the port was renamed as V.O. Chidambaranar Port.
There are broad gauge rail and roads to connect the port with main cities. The port offers 5.5 lakh square metres of warehouse space. In the open yard, 30,000 ton bulk cargo and 2,500 ton containers can be kept. Over 2,000 acres of open space is available outside the gate. Timber and granite can be stored here.
Thoothukudi’s highlight is its ability to draw business in the future too. There are hectares of land available to set up a business in the vicinity of the port.
