The inclusion of Nellore and Krishnapatnam Port in the Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor (CBIC) has been questioned by the Tamil Nadu government and representatives of Chennai, Kamarajar (Ennore) and L&T Kattupalli ports as it is not in the proposed alignment. The latter also fear that this will result in diversion of cargo.
L&T Kattupalli port is developed by Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, while Kamarajar Port is on the verge of constructing mega container terminal and multi-cargo terminal. Advisor to Prime Minister T. K. A. Nair told The Hindu on Monday that he had received some objections from the stakeholders but it was not an appropriate forum to discuss the issue. The inclusion of Krishnapatnam Port would bring in more regions under development and it was also part of the Andhra Pradesh expansion plan that was developing a major port at Durgarajapatnam.
Andhra Pradesh’s Special Chief Secretary and Commissioner for Industrial Promotion K. Pradeep Chandra said that Krishnapatnam Port was considered by the Japan Industrial Co-operation Agency (JICA) as it had deep draught which was missing in Chennai and Kamarajar ports and it was already used by some of the Japanese firms.
Countering the claim, an L&T Kattupalli official said that Chennai and Kamarajar ports have deep draught. Moreover, deep draught was required for coal and very large crude carriers (VLCC) and not for container vessels. Together, all the three ports at present have seven million tonnes capacity and this might go up in the next five years.“If need be one more port can be created between Kamarajar and Kattupalli port to meet the growing demand,” said the L&T official.
According to the port users, the spectacular rise of Krishnapatnam Port in the last 18 months would have attracted the Japanese firms to have a look at the port that handled almost all commodities and had good rail and road links. However, representatives of Krishnapatnam Port said that the proposed inclusion would benefit all the regions and the States. “So why object it?” they ask.
