Cabinet okays port development project.

The Council of Ministers headed by Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy recently accorded approval to the Port Department for signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Chennai Port Trust for developing the Puducherry port.

At the conclusion of the meeting which lasted for about three hours, Mr. Narayanasamy said the Cabinet approved the decision to develop the port. “Soon, the port will be abuzz with activity as the export and import of goods would be initiated. It will be a major hub near Chennai and will handle 0.3 million tonne cargo per annum initially. The capacity will later be expanded up to one million tonne. The officials said ports in Chennai had been too congested and cargo operators found it very difficult to move the containers from the ports. It was a time-consuming process too. The port authorities were planning to bring the containers from Chennai through small barges to Puducherry port and move them quickly to inland destinations from here.

Mr. Narayanasamy said the agreement would be on a revenue-sharing basis between the Chennai Port Trust and the Puducherry Port.

The port will also handle “clean cargo” such as sugar, palm oil, timber, cement and steel. The Puducherry Port will do dredging work on the mouth of port in the first year and Chennai Port Trust will be in charge of the operations.

THE HINDU