V. O. Chidambaranar Port Authority emerges as a model for swift and smart execution of infrastructure projects

V. O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port), the economic engine of South India, has been making significant strides in cargo handling with the mission to handle 50 million tonnes of cargo and 1 million TEUs of containers this financial year. To achieve this mission, infrastructure development at the port, to cater to the needs of the EXIM trade, has been happening in a swift manner. Aligning to the ‘PM Gati Shakti’ initiative of the Prime Minister and the Maritime India Vision 2030 of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, VOC Port has positioned itself as a national exemplar for rapid and efficient project execution. In the last fiscal year, VOC Port enhanced its cargo handling capacity through major infrastructure upgrades, including a new container terminal (Tuticorin International Container Terminal) with a capacity to handle 7 lakh TEUs, in September 2024, bulk cargo terminal (JSW Tuticorin Multipurpose Terminal) with capacity to handle 7 million tonnes of cargo, and expanded turning circle and dredging in front of NCB-3 in May 2025. Key developments also include a multipurpose berth at Berth-7 in March 2025, link conveyor system to tap the idle capacity in January 2025, and Direct Port Entry facility for export containers in April 2025. Additionally, the port marked a green energy milestone by commissioning a Green Hydrogen Pilot Plant in May 2025, the first Indian port to lead the transition to green energy. The port has allocated 501 acres for green hydrogen/ammonia projects, attracting Rs 41,860 crore in investments. To serve the emerging industries in the primary hinterland of Tuticorin, the likes of Vinfast, one of the largest  EV car manufacturers, Vikram Solar and Tata Solar, manufacturers of solar power panels and accessories, the furniture industry in the Furniture Park of Tuticorin SIPCOT, windmill blade industry, and probable industries like shipbuilding and automobile accessories, VOC Port has planned various capacity augmentation and Ease of Doing Business initiatives to meet their logistics needs. Plans are underway to strengthen and deepen the inner harbour berths to a draft of 14.20 metres. The construction of North Cargo Berth-4, with length overall (LOA) of 400 metres, shall be used for the proposed Offshore Wind Terminal, and the development of Berth-10 as a multi-cargo berth will enhance the port’s general cargo handling capabilities. The port is also in the process of widening its entrance and dredging the approach channel to facilitate easy handling of fully loaded Panamax bulk cargo and container vessels.  Besides, plans are underway to establish VOC Port as a dedicated shipbuilding and ship repair facility on the East Coast, further positioning the port as a comprehensive maritime hub. To meet the exponential growth in container traffic, the port has proposed to develop the Outer Harbour, for which the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone. The Outer Harbour will have two container terminals with quay length of 1 km each, draft of 16.5 metres, with capacity to handle 4 million TEUs of container traffic, highlighted a port communique. Said Mr Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, “The remarkable pace of infrastructure project execution at VOC Port is driven by the all-weather ecosystem of Tuticorin, easy availability of the construction materials, good work culture, strategic planning, guidance of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and seamless inter-departmental coordination. VOC Port leverages on periodic interaction with stakeholders of the port to assess the augmentation requirements and structured systems for monitoring the progress of projects. The above ecosystem has been a platform for the investors to execute the project with ease in a scheduled manner, contributing to India’s maritime growth and sustainability goals”.

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