Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Commissioned the Container Gantry Cranes at Berth No.8 (DBGT), inaugurated the Information Centre and Truck parking Terminal at V.O. Chidambaranar Port at 15 : 30 hrs on 26.02.2018 at Truck Parking Terminal in the presence of presence of Thiru Pon. Radhakrishnan, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping, Thiru C.Kadambur Raju, Hon’ble Minister for Information and Publicity, Government of Tamilnadu, Thiru J. Jeyasingh Thiyagaraj Natterjee, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Thoothukudi Constituency, Smt. P. Geetha Jeevan, Member of Legislative Assembly, Thoothukkudi Constituency.
The V.O.Chidambaranar Port 2nd Container Terminal Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal Private Limited features 3 Rail Mounted Quay Cranes, 9 Rubber Tyre Gantry Cranes etc. The project has been commissioned at an investment of 312.23 Crores and the PPP operator, M/s. Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal would offer a revenue share of 55.19 % to the Port. The overall length of the berth is 345 metres and the maximum draft is 13 metres. The Terminal has the capacity to handled 6 lakhs TEUs per annum.
The Truck Parking Terminal in V.O.Chidambaranar Port has been constructed at an investment of Rs.23.69 crores. The Truck Parking Terminal has been established at an area of 52,609 Sq.m. It is located at the proximity of all the Container Freight Stations in Tuticorin and is just 8 Kilometres from the Port.
The project is envisaged as a ‘Ease of Doing Business Initiative by Government of India for reducing the cost and dwell time of cargo clearance in Ports. The Truck Parking Terminal will serve as a Document Processing Centre for export cargo and clearing Centre for Direct Delivery consignments with the presence of Customs officials and the Terminal Operators as a one stop solution.
The Truck Parking Terminal features parking slots for 200 vehicle at a time. The Truck Parking Terminal also provides shelter to the Truck drivers and cleaners with dormitory at nominal cost, canteen facilities etc.
The state of the Art ‘Port Information Centre’ has been established at a total cost of 1.89 crores with a built up area of 445 Sq.m
The Information Centre facility to bring out the soft values of seaports and to regenerate the connection between Ports and citizens of the country houses LED panels depicting the evolution of and growth of the Port over the years. The Touch screen kiosk systems would provide in depth information on seaports, shipping, Indian ports, EXIM trade, Photo gallery and video gallery. The Port model features the miniature of Port installations in the Harbour estate. The Information centre also facilitates a theatre room with seating capacity for 80 persons to enjoy the visual display of Port activities
Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Gadkari, highlighted the importance of capacity augmentation of Ports to meet the needs of the flourishing EXIM Trade. He reaffirmed that the V.O. Chidambaranar Port will find a place the league of Transhipment Ports of the country on completion of the Deepening of the Harbour Basin to a depth of 16.50 meters, widening of entrance channel and strengthening of berths 1 to 6.
Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping, Shri Pon Radhakrishnan, while addressing the gathering mentioned that VOC Port is a growing Port and has always shown promise in attaining an inclusive growth. He lauded the efforts of VOC Port for undertaking the lead in establishing the Port information centre which will bring out the esthetic, intellectual and social aspects of Port Community life.
Shri I.Jeyakumar IRTS, Chairman/VOCPT welcomed the gathering and Shri S. Nararajan, Deputy Chairman / VOCPT proposed the vote of thanks.