The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Karunanidhi commissions cargo berth at Tuticorin

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Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Karunanidhi commissions cargo berth at Tuticorin

Special Correspondent

It will increase the port’s capacity by two million tonnes per annum initially

— Photo: N. Rajesh

NEW FACILITY: Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi inaugurating the ninth cargo berth in Tuticorin port by video conference from Chennai on Monday.

CHENNAI/TUTICORIN: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Monday commissioned a new cargo berth at the Tuticorin port via videoconference from here.

Established with an outlay of Rs.44.57 crore, Berth 9 will increase the port capacity by two million tonnes per annum initially. Dredging works taken up in the vicinity to increase the draught from 7 metres to 10.9 metres at a cost of Rs.41 crore would be completed by November.

The capacity of the 335-metre-long berth would be augmented by another 2.5 million tonnes once two more wharf cranes and silos are established at Berth 9 in 2009-10.

‘Clean cargo’ such as wheat, maize, sugar, edible oil, wood logs and granite blocks would be handled at the berth.

Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T. R Baalu attributed the exponential growth of the Tuticorin port in the last few decades to the initiatives and suggestions of the Chief Minister. He said Under phase one of the National Maritime Development Programme, a total of 17 projects had been undertaken (including the construction of Berth 9) to enhance the cargo handling capacity at the Tuticorin port on an outlay of Rs.961.25 crore.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Radhika Selvi, Minister for State Highways and Ports M. P. Saminathan, Minister for Social Welfare Geetha Jeevan and Deputy Chairman of Tuticorin Port Trust A. Subbiah spoke.

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