Tamil Nadu seeks Centre’s help to build port

E V Velu, the Minister for Public Works responsible for buildings, highways, and minor ports, has appealed for financial support from the central government to enhance the development of non-major ports in Tamil Nadu. Speaking during a roadshow ahead of the forthcoming Global Maritime India Summit, Velu highlighted the economic growth and job opportunities generated by the expansion project at VOC Port. He emphasised the need for recognising and funding additional ports to further boost the state's maritime infrastructure.Sunil Paliwal, Chairperson of the Chennai Port Authority, emphasised the importance of addressing capacity limitations at ports to maintain competitiveness in handling large cargo shipments.Tamil Nadu is home to three of India's 12 major ports, and S Krishnan, Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries, Investment Promotion, and Commerce Department, stressed the state's potential as an attractive destination for cruise tourism. He emphasised the importance of attracting investments in ports, given the state's extensive peninsular coastline.Furthermore, these ports play a critical role in supplying coal to thermal power plants. Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, revealed the central government's desire to promote Tamil Nadu as a bunker hub. Several projects are already in progress to achieve this goal.