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.
