Title - Rail connectivity can ease port congestion: Expert

While Chennai port is grappling with congestion and poor connectivity to hinterland, a top railway official has suggested the need to focus more on rail than road to make the port successful
Chief safety officer, Southern Railway S Anantharaman said that ports like Ennore and Karaikal are thriving due to rail connectivity. “Port efficiency is not measured on how you use cranes. If there is no hinterland connectivity, ports can’t be successful,” he said.
He added there is a need for ports to increase rail cargos and reduce dependency on road. “It will help reduce pollution and move towards green energy,” he said.
A railway rake can move around 55 containers in a single trip. The same through road would need 55 trailers to move the same cargo which creates congestion on the road. There are too many trucks and trailers moving in and out of Chennai port resulting in serious congestion at entry and exit points of port. This causes pollution as well as frequent hold-up.
Interestingly, Chennai Port is planning to focus more on rail connectivity. It is currently adding two more railway lines inside the port and a proposal in this regard has been finalised.
“We are slowly shifting from road to rail mode. We will soon have four- lane rail connectivity,” said deputy chairman of Chennai Port P C Parida. The proposal will help transport containerised cargo from the port which would reduce the pressure on roads.
Anantharaman stressed the need to follow the Rotterdam model of The Netherlands. The port is now shifting its focus on rail rather than on road, he said. He said Chennai Port is facing the problem of congestion as it has failed to utilise railways unlike Ennore and Karaikal.