VOC Port’s Outer Harbour Project to Cost ₹15,000 Crore, Targets Transshipment Leadership in South India.

VO Chidambaranar Port plans to invest ₹15,000 crore in its ambitious Outer Harbour project to enhance cargo handling capacity and establish Tamil Nadu as a key transshipment hub in southern India, a senior executive said.

The investment comes on top of a ₹1,500 crore capital expenditure allocated for port infrastructure upgrades, clean initiatives, and the deployment of advanced technologies, VOC Port Authority Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit told PTI.

Located in Tuticorin, VOC Port is one of India’s oldest and major operational ports, handling 82 million tonnes of cargo annually. The port has historic trade links dating back to 123 AD, underscoring its longstanding role in regional and international commerce.

The Outer Harbour project is expected to significantly expand the port’s capacity and reinforce Tamil Nadu’s position in the global maritime and transshipment network.