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The Chennai port has lost out on container traffic which has fallen by 3% from 15.47 lakh TEU last year to 14.95 lakh TEUs.
Chairman of Chennai Port P. Raveendran said they have lost out due to heavy competition but this reduction has been compensated by an increase in other cargo, which has gone up by more than a million tonnes. “We are likely to end the year 2016-17 with 50.15 million tonnes of cargo throughput, marginally up from the 50.06 million tonnes in 2015-16. Despite the loss [in container traffic], we have maintained an overall positive growth because of the increase in bulk and break bulk categories,” he said.
The operating income too is likely to be Rs. 776 crore as against Rs. 758 crore the previous year, he said.
Mr. Raveendran said one of the major problems that the port grapples with is accessibility. To resolve this, they are taking up issues associated with the Ennore Port Road Connectivity Project (EMRIP) and elevated corridor to Maduravoyal. “EMRIP has two problems — one with respect to the fisheries harbour and the other relating to NTO Kuppam — which have been taken up. A high-level committee is working on the elevated corridor. There may be an increase in the cost of the project but that will be known only after the technical issues are finalised,” he added.
A cruise terminal has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 16 crore and is likely to be opened next month. This may boost tourism to some extent, he added. He added that the port has not surrendered 100 acres of land in Sriperumbudur and plans to develop it as a dry port in the near future.
MoU signed
The port has signed an MoU with the Puducherry Port, which will serve as a satellite port for the former. “The Chennai port will export and import cargo meant for districts around Puducherry like Karaikkal and Villupuram. Dredging is currently on in Puducherry and once it is over, an operator will be appointed,” he said.
A radio frequency identification device-based Harbour Entry Permit System will also be introduced soon, he added.
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