Title - The Hindu : NATIONAL / TAMIL NADU : Rail cargo traffic to be improved at port

: Rail cargo traffic for V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin, is expected to witness improvements to decongest traffic in transportation of industrial coal, fertilizers and other goods by road.

The rail traffic at present is 1.5 million tonnes per annum and it could touch 20 million tonnes per annum to meet requirements of thermal coal for the upcoming power plants in future , S. Natarajan, Chairman (in-charge) of the port told The Hindu here on Saturday. During the last financial year, 15.18 lakh tonnes of rail cargo traffic was achieved.

Quantum increase in port traffic is expected on account of enhancement of capacity of Tuticorin Thermal Power Station and requirements of other emerging thermal power plants.

Fifteen million tonnes of thermal coal, three million tonnes of industrial coal and about 1.34 million TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units) of containers would be required for handling at the port in 2017-2018. “Hare Island, adjoining the Tuticorin port, has been identified for storage of cargo for North Cargo Berths – II, III and IV and it has been planned to develop rail connectivity from the existing marshalling yard.

Survey, design and preparation of detailed project report for laying a single broad gauge railway line connecting the existing marshalling yard of the proposed work to the island was entrusted with Rites Limited at Secunderabad.