Tiruchi Member of Parliament Durai Vaiko has urged the Union government to establish an inland container depot (dry port) in Tiruchi, addressing a long-standing demand of local trade and industry.Mr Vaiko met Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal in New Delhi on Monday to press the request. In his representation, he highlighted Tiruchi’s role as a key industrial and trade hub in Tamil Nadu, serving as an “export centre” for engineering equipment, spare parts, fabricated materials, food products, millets, and perishables including vegetables and fruits.According to the National Horticultural Database 2023–24, Tiruchi produced 112.62 million tonnes of fruits and 204.96 million tonnes of vegetables. Much of this produce is exported to Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Qatar, and the UAE via Tiruchi International Airport, while value-added agricultural and engineering products are transported by road to distant sea ports in Chennai, Thoothukudi, and Kochi.Currently, 40–50 containers of 25 tonnes each are transported monthly by road from Tiruchi to these ports. Exporters face high transport and handling costs as well as lengthy port formalities. A local dry port would allow exporters to complete documentation and procedures within Tiruchi itself, significantly cutting costs and saving time, Mr Vaiko argued.Trade bodies have repeatedly noted Tiruchi’s growing export volumes, stressing that a dry port would strengthen logistics infrastructure, attract new investments, and support sustained export growth. Tiruchi’s central location with strong air, road, and rail links makes it an ideal site.Mr Vaiko suggested that the 100 acres required for the project could be allocated within the SIPCOT Industrial Park at Manapparai or other highway-connected sites. He urged the Centre to move swiftly, emphasising that such a facility would benefit the regional economy and enhance India’s overall export capacity.