WASHINGTON: VO Chidambaranar Port Trust in Tuticorin plans to develop two berths for container and coal handling under Pubic-Private-Partnership (PPP) on Design, Build, Finance, Finance, Operate and Transfer basis at a total cost of about 1,074 crore. The Port Trust plans to develop North Cargo Berth-IV to handle containers and other clean cargo at a cost of 487 crore. When developed, it will be third container terminal inside the port.
At present, there are two container terminals totalling 1.1 million TEUs — one of 4.17 lakh TEU operated by PSA-Sical on royalty basis and another by Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminals on revenue sharing basis with a capacity of about 6 lakh TEUs. The port handled 0.61 million TEUs during 2015-16.
Out of the total handling of nearly 33 million tonnes, thermal coal alone contributes to nearly 15 per cent and rest of the cargo include industrial coal, fertilisers, copper concentrate, rock phosphate, lime stone and construction materials. The Port Trust plans to develop North cargo berth III to handle coal at a cost of 587 crore.
The port’s present capacity is 42.06 MT. In the next five years, it plans to construct and commission North Cargo Berth III and IV, shallow draft berths and SEPC berth to increase the capacity to 85 MT by 2017, according to information available in the port trust’s website.
