Cuddalore Plans to Operate Brownfield Port and Develop Greenfield Port Within 5 km Radius.

The Tamil Nadu Maritime Board (TNMB) has unveiled plans to develop two ports within 5 km of each other in Cuddalore, located about 130 km south of Chennai. The existing minor port, which has become defunct due to persistent silting, will be revitalized as a brownfield project to handle small vessels and barges. In proximity, the Board plans to develop a greenfield port designed to accommodate large vessels.

This dual-port strategy follows a lack of interest in a tender issued in February, where bidders were reluctant to take on a single integrated port due to the challenges faced by the minor port, including silting at the river mouth. Instead, the bidders recommended building a new greenfield port adjacent to the existing facility, said M Vallalar, Vice Chairman and CEO of TNMB.

The minor port has remained inactive for nearly a year despite ₹160 crore being spent on infrastructure improvements such as the extension of the North and South breakwaters, construction of wharfs, and dredging of the approach channel. The shallow 3-4 m depth of the port is a significant deterrent for private players, but Vallalar noted that it could still serve as an ideal location for barges to transport cargo to nearby areas, potentially reducing reliance on trucks and rail. Larger vessels could dock at the open sea anchorage, with cargo transferred via barges. Positive feedback was received from some private sector players regarding the restart of operations.

TNMB also holds nearly 100 acres of land adjacent to the minor port, which could be used for storage or possibly shipbuilding and repair activities.

The greenfield port project will be located within 5 km of the minor port, with water depth reaching 14 m within 1 km from the shore. The government will allocate 47.14 acres of Poromboke Land and additional land can be acquired from private owners. Vallalar believes that once the port is operational, hinterland development will follow quickly.

The greenfield port is expected to handle various types of cargo, including coal for thermal power plants in Mettur and Cuddalore, as well as clinker, cement, edible oil, sugar, and fertilizers. The port is strategically positioned to serve major cargo centers in central and western Tamil Nadu, including Tirupur, Salem, and Erode, potentially diverting container traffic from VOC port.

With a projected handling capacity of 13 million tonnes of cargo, the greenfield port is seen as a significant addition to Tamil Nadu’s infrastructure. Cuddalore Member of Parliament, MK Vishnu Prasad, emphasized that the development of the port will attract trade, logistics, and investment opportunities, benefiting both the local economy and hinterland industries.

HBL