Chennai-Ennore Port road project to be completed in two years

The Rs.600-crore Chennai-Ennore Port road connectivity project will be completed in two years, Union Minister for Shipping G.K. Vasan said on Wednesday.

Inaugurating the project works at Thiruchanakuppam near Tiruvottiyur, he said that the scheme was imperative as it would ease congestion in north Chennai region. It would also facilitate smooth cargo movement from and to Chennai Port. The project would be of immense help for development of the port and import and export from the State.

Mr. Vasan said cargo handling capacity of the ports in the country were going up and might touch the one billion tonne mark soon. With reference to Chennai Port, he said its cargo handling capacity was 61 million tonnes, which would go up to 140 million tonnes in another decade. “It is not only necessary that cargo handling capacity be augmented but also that our ports join the best in the world. For this and to link ports with production zones, schemes such as the Chennai-Ennore Port road connectivity project become important.”

On the plea of T.K.S. Elangovan, MP, and K.P.P.Samy, State Minister for Fisheries, for improving Kasimedu fishing harbour, he said funds would be provided. Mr. Vasan, who also laid the stone for the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board's Rs.10-crore office building coming up on Greenways Road, said the Maritime Board could establish a few more minor ports, which would improve industrial development in southern India.