V O Chidambaranar Port Plans Rs 150 bn Outer Harbour Project
PORTS & SHIPPING

V O Chidambaranar Port Plans Rs 150 bn Outer Harbour Project

V O Chidambaranar Port, known as VOC Port, plans to invest Rs 150 bn in an Outer Harbour project to handle the largest container ships and boost transhipment capacity. The chairperson outlined the project during an interview with PTI and said it formed part of an effort to position Tamil Nadu as a major transhipment hub competing with Sri Lanka, Singapore and Indonesia. The announcement framed the investment as aligned with the prime minister's maritime vision.

The development is expected to add four mn t of capacity per annum in two phases by 2030 and will include two new berths capable of receiving the largest container vessels at an 18 metre draft. The scheme foresees two deep-draft terminals, each with a 1,000-metre quay length, designed to accommodate next-generation ships and to improve operational efficiency. Capital dredging and construction of breakwaters are among the core works envisaged.

A tripartite financing agreement has been signed with Indian Railway Finance Corporation and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited to support the project, which is being developed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode. The tender process has been floated for offshore reclamation for backup yards and allied facilities required to handle larger ships and expanded container throughput. Officials indicated the scheme aligns with the Government of India's Sagarmala Programme and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

Officials projected that the Outer Harbour will strengthen India’s global trade connectivity by enabling handling of larger container and bulk vessels, reducing logistics costs and improving turnaround times. The port authority estimated reduced dependence on overseas transhipment hubs such as Colombo and Singapore could save as much as $200 per TEU and deliver foreign exchange savings of approximately Rs 40 bn annually. The development is expected to accelerate industrial activity across Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Madurai districts.

V O Chidambaranar Port, known as VOC Port, plans to invest Rs 150 bn in an Outer Harbour project to handle the largest container ships and boost transhipment capacity. The chairperson outlined the project during an interview with PTI and said it formed part of an effort to position Tamil Nadu as a major transhipment hub competing with Sri Lanka, Singapore and Indonesia. The announcement framed the investment as aligned with the prime minister's maritime vision. The development is expected to add four mn t of capacity per annum in two phases by 2030 and will include two new berths capable of receiving the largest container vessels at an 18 metre draft. The scheme foresees two deep-draft terminals, each with a 1,000-metre quay length, designed to accommodate next-generation ships and to improve operational efficiency. Capital dredging and construction of breakwaters are among the core works envisaged. A tripartite financing agreement has been signed with Indian Railway Finance Corporation and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited to support the project, which is being developed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode. The tender process has been floated for offshore reclamation for backup yards and allied facilities required to handle larger ships and expanded container throughput. Officials indicated the scheme aligns with the Government of India's Sagarmala Programme and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Officials projected that the Outer Harbour will strengthen India’s global trade connectivity by enabling handling of larger container and bulk vessels, reducing logistics costs and improving turnaround times. The port authority estimated reduced dependence on overseas transhipment hubs such as Colombo and Singapore could save as much as $200 per TEU and deliver foreign exchange savings of approximately Rs 40 bn annually. The development is expected to accelerate industrial activity across Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Madurai districts.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

KONE Opens India's First Digital Experience Centre in Pune

KONE, a global elevator and escalator manufacturer, has inaugurated its first Digital Experience Centre (DEC) in India, located in Pune. The facility aims to showcase how artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity and data-driven technologies can enhance customer experiences and improve building operations.The centre was inaugurated by Jussi Herlin, Executive Vice Chair, KONE Corporation; Philippe Delorme, President and CEO, KONE; and Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Infosys.Designed as an interactive customer environment, the facility demonstrates digital solutions cover..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

CII GreenCo Launches Circularity Guidelines for Indian Industry

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) GreenCo Council has launched the CII GreenCo Circularity Guidelines – Pilot Version at the 17th CII GreenCo Waste & Resource Management Summit 2026 in Chennai. The initiative aims to strengthen resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular economy practices across Indian manufacturing and process industries.The guidelines introduce a structured framework with circularity indices covering raw materials, consumables, packaging and other resource inputs. These indicators will help industries assess existing practices, identify opportunities to ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Global Electronics Association Launches IPC-1783-CO2E Standard

The Global Electronics Association has introduced IPC-1783-CO2E, a new international standard aimed at improving consistency, transparency and comparability in product carbon footprint reporting across the electronics manufacturing industry.The standard, titled International Standard for Data Collection and Reporting of CO2 Equivalent (CO2e) Emissions for the Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain, provides industry-specific guidance for collecting, estimating and reporting carbon emissions data.With increasing regulatory requirements and customer expectations, electronics manufacturers face c..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code