Chennai’s Kasimedu fishing harbour, one of the busiest marine hubs on India’s east coast, is nearing a major infrastructure overhaul—with nearly 80 per cent of the Rs 970 million redevelopment work already complete.

Backed by Central funding, the upgrade includes a 1,300-metre-long peripheral wall, of which 1,000 metres are already built. The project is led by Chennai Port Trust, and Chairman Sunil Paliwal confirmed the revamp remains on track for completion by the end of 2025.

A new peripheral road is being laid to address chronic traffic bottlenecks within the harbour. Once finished, it will ease the movement of goods and improve access for workers and vendors.

A key upgrade is the completion of an 86,000 sqft boat repair yard—set to provide a major relief to the fishing community. A designated parking space for two- and four-wheelers has also been introduced to reduce congestion caused by haphazard vehicle movement.

To address long-standing sanitation issues, two new treatment plants—one each for sewage and effluent—are nearing completion. With a 75,000-litre capacity each, they will prevent untreated waste from entering city drains and enhance hygiene at the harbour.

A new overhead tank and sump with a total storage of 1 lakh litres have been installed to ensure adequate water supply. Final touches are being added to new toilet blocks, an administrative office, and dedicated stalls for boat spare parts.

Once fully operational, the revamped harbour will mark a major leap in improving the safety, efficiency, and daily working conditions for thousands in Chennai’s fishing economy.