VOC Port enters next growth phase with PM giving INR 753.68 cr. boost for containers, green hydrogen and logistics

The Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi on Sunday set in motion the next phase of development at V.O. Chidambaranar Port (VOC Port), inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for eight projects involving a cumulative investment of INR 753.68 crore.

The projects are significant not merely for the scale of investment, but for the direction they give the port’s growth through greater container capacity, infrastructure for the emerging clean-fuel economy, and stronger landside logistics for faster and more efficient cargo movement.

Together, they strengthen VOC Port’s ability to serve the expanding industrial and trade requirements of southern Tamil Nadu while preparing the port for the changing demands of global shipping.

Container expansion atthe centre of development

The largest investment in the package is the INR 517.19-crore conversion of Berth No. 7 into a Container Terminal, for which the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone. 

The new terminal will add 4.2 lakh TEUs of annual container-handling capacity, creating a substantial addition to VOC Port’s container infrastructure. With a 370-metre quay, around 10 hectares of back-up area, three quay cranes and nine RTGCs, the terminal is being designed for higher-volume and more efficient container operations. The proposed enhancement of draft to 14.20 metres will also facilitate calls by larger mainline container vessels. 

The additional capacity is expected to improve shipping connectivity for exporters and importers, reduce dependence on transhipment, and strengthen VOC Port’s position as a principal container gateway for southern Tamil Nadu and its wider hinterland.
Renewable energy and green maritime fuels infrastructure A second defining element of the development package is the creation of infrastructure for the next generation of maritime energy.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a 3 MW Green Hydrogen Manufacturing and Refuelling Station, being developed at an estimated cost of INR 81.33 crore. The facility will integrate green hydrogen production, storage and refuelling, enabling its use in port vehicles and creating an operational ecosystem around hydrogen as a clean fuel. 

The PM also inaugurated the Green Methanol Bunkering and Refuelling Facility, developed at a cost of INR 38.12 crore. With two 750 cubic metre storage tanks and an approximately 2.8-km pipeline connecting the facility to the Oil Jetty, the project creates dedicated infrastructure for the handling and bunkering of green methanol at VOC Port. 

The significance of these projects extends beyond reducing the port’s own emissions. Together, the hydrogen and methanol facilities begin building the infrastructure required for VOC Port to participate in the wider transition of shipping towards cleaner fuels. 

This transition is being supported by additional renewable energy capacity. A 2 MW solar power plant, developed at a cost of INR 9.80 crore, was inaugurated as part of the programme. The plant is expected to generate around 3.77 million kWh of renewable electricity annually, strengthening the port’s renewable energy base while reducing conventional energy consumption and associated emissions.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated four electric buses, procured at a cost of INR 4.67 crore, further extending clean mobility within the port ecosystem.

Landside logistics, road infrastructure and cargo mechanisation

Port capacity is effective only when cargo can move efficiently through the wider logistics system. The development package therefore also addresses road connectivity, truck movement and cargo mechanisation.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the 3.37-km four-lane road connecting TTPS Roundana and Check Post-2, developed at a cost of INR 47.46 crore. The new rigid-pavement corridor, supported by storm-water drainage infrastructure, will improve cargo evacuation, ease internal traffic movement and enhance road safety. It will also provide stronger connectivity for industries associated with the Coastal Employment Unit.

A new Truck Parking Terminal, being developed at an estimated cost of INR 47.40 crore, will further improve the organisation of freight movement around the port. Spread over 52,598 square metres with capacity for approximately 230 cargo trucks, the terminal is designed to reduce roadside parking, queuing and congestion while creating a more orderly and efficient interface between trucks and port operations.

The development package also includes three mechanised bagging machines with silos and conveyors, involving an investment of INR 7.71 crore, strengthening fertiliser handling through greater mechanisation, improved efficiency and reduced manual intervention.

Integrated platform and Prime Minister’s address The eight projects collectively address different parts of the same maritime value chain. The container terminal expands the port’s commercial capacity. The green hydrogen and green methanol facilities prepare it for the evolving energy requirements of maritime transport. Solar power and electric mobility reduce the environmental footprint of port operations. Road, truck parking and mechanisation projects improve the speed and efficiency with which cargo moves through the system.

Taken together, the investments strengthen VOC Port not as a collection of individual infrastructure projects, but as an integrated maritime and logistics platform capable of supporting the next phase of industrial, trade and economic growth in the region.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that India is giving greater importance to the shipping sector and that Tamil Nadu has a major role to play in the country’s maritime development. He pointed out that VOC Port is being developed into a world class mega container port and green energy hub. Upon completion of the project, it would be able to receive ultra-large container vessels, helping Tamil Nadu develop into a global hub for industry and transportation.

The Prime Minister also highlighted improvements in the speed and efficiency of Indian ports in recent years. He observed that vessel turnaround times had been halved, enabling faster movement of goods across the world while saving both time and money, as per an official release.

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