Chennai Port’s Outer Harbour Project to be implemented at ₹17,700 crore

Chennai Port's Outer Harbour Project to be implemented at ₹17, 700 crore The project's proposal will shortly be sent to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways for approval.

Key points

• According to sources, the board has cleared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the consultant for the Outer Harbour Project.
• Chennai Port Authority additionally aims to conduct road demonstrates to attract more operators and push for the project.
• It will allow the port to handle ships with 18 metres of draft, will be ready in five years.
• The project will additionally be a good opportunity for the Chennai Port to capture the feeder traffic from the upper east coast.
• Construction of breakwater, reclamation of land yard development, berth construction, dredging, development of container parking yard, and internal rail connectivity are part of the project.

Construction of breakwater, reclamation of land yard development, berth construction, dredging, development of container parking yard, and internal rail connectivity are part of the project. Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM.

For context, the Chennai Port's Outer Harbour Project will be implemented at a cost of almost ₹17, 700 crore, and the proposal for this will be sent shortly to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways for approval. According to It is to be, two firms have already evinced interest in this project.

According to sources, the board has cleared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the consultant for the Outer Harbour Project. "After the ministry gives a go-ahead for the project, it will be sent to the cabinet for final approval. Meanwhile, we will apply for the environmental clearance, " a source remarked.

For context, the project intends to improve the port's capacity, draw more cargo, and drop logistics time and cost. It was planned almost two decades ago, but did not take off in the first two attempts. "But this time, we are hopeful it will work. We have conceived on the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) and BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model. We plan to pitch in regarding 40 per cent of the cost, and the rest will have to be borne by the private operator, " another source stated.

Chennai Port Authority additionally aims to conduct road demonstrates to attract more operators and push for the project. The concessionaire who bags the project will obtain a 45-year period to operate.

Meanwhile, the project's first phase. It will allow the port to handle ships with 18 metres of draft, will be ready in five years. After this, the next phase will be taken up.

According to the authority, 24, 000 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) ultra-large vessels are now dominating the mainline trade and when the draft of the port increases to 18 metres after the completion of the project, plenty of such vessels can directly berth at the port.

In practice, the project will additionally be a good opportunity for the Chennai Port to capture the feeder traffic from the upper east coast. "We shouldn't let go of this opportunity to develop this project and it will significantly enhance the port's capacity, " an official remarked.

In short, chennai Port's Outer Harbour Project to be implemented at ₹17, 700 crore is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.