TUTICORIN: VO Chidambaranar Port here handled traffic of 13.06 million tonnes in the current financial year up to July 31, registering a whopping growth of 27.56% over the corresponding period last year (10.23 million tonnes). This is the highest growth rate achieved among the major ports during this period, according to an official statement from the Port Trust.
Major cargoes that contributed to the achievements are coal (43%), containers (32%), fertilizer and fertilizer raw materials (4%), copper concentrate (3%), construction materials (2%), liquid cargoes (4%) and other bulk/ break bulk (12%). It terms of containers, the port has handled 2.06 lakh TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) in the current financial year up to July 31, registering a growth of 15.27% over the corresponding period last year (1.78% lakh TEUs).
“This is the highest growth rate achieved among India Major Ports during the current financial year ending July, 2015. During the last financial year, the port achieved 13.17% growth and crossed the ministry of shipping’s target of 32 million tonnes by handling 32.41 million tonnes. This achievement has been possible due to the cost effective service offered by the port and conducive working atmosphere prevailing in V O Childambaranar Port,” said Port Trust chairman S Anantha Chandra Bose.
He appreciated the commitment, hard work and dedicated efforts of the officers and staff of the port, terminal operators and all stakeholders for achieving such significant growth in volumes, which is in line with the port’s vision ‘to become a pioneer in providing quality and efficient cargo handling facility in South India’.
The consistent growth of the port has given a boost to industrial growth in the region. Tuticorin is becoming the power hub of southern India and VOC Port offers all the advantages to investors to venture into new port-related industries in Tuticorin, according to industrial sources.
