Ennore port gets rail link boost

Chennai: The inauguration on Mo­n­day of the railway siding infrastructure at Ennore port will enable it to handle 24 fully loaded trains per day, setting it on the path to growth, even as the target for its annual handling capacity is set to increase from 30 million tonnes to 67 million tonnes by 2017.

“The rail siding infrastructure, provided at a cost of Rs 51.60 crore, will enable it to connect to the main lines,” said Union shipping minister G.K. Vasan, who inaugurated it on Monday.

He said that a new broad gauge rail link between At­tipattu and Tiruvallur/Av­adi, using the rail corridor and a proposed northern rail link, taking off from the northern side of Minjur station to enter Ennore port, were being explored and also the possibility of bringing cars by rail rakes.

Vasan said, “Ennore, as one of the best ports in the country today, has not only facilitated trade and commerce but also contributed to the exchequer. The port handled 20.87 million tonnes of cargo from April till December 2013, ending the financial year 2013-14 with 24 million ton­nes.”

Vasan said that the port would add substantial capacity by 2017 through the development of projects, such as the LNG terminal (5 MTPA), container terminal (16 MTPA), multi-cargo terminal (2 MTPA) and a third coal berth (9 MTPA).

Earlier, divisional railway manager P.K. Mishra said rail transport of cargo was efficient and environment-friendly. Ennore port CMD M.A. Bhaskarachar added that a double line and rail electrification would both speed up evacuation and br­i­ng more cargo to the port. Indian Maritime Uni­vers­ity’s vice-chancellor Ashok Vardhan Shetty and Che­nnai Port Trust chairman Atulya Misra also took part.