Following two failed attempts, the Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) has decided to drop its plan of developing mega container terminal and instead go in for a multi-purpose terminal to handle different types of commodities.
At the Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting, Ernst and Young was appointed to provide Transaction Advisory Services for the development of mega terminal. Henceforth, it would be referred as ‘Outer harbour development project.’
According to informed sources, the consultant has been given 12 weeks time to submit a Detailed Project Report on how the project could be made attractive in terms of investment and revenue sharing, the engineering aspects and types of commodities that could be handled.
“It would be a mega project, but it is not in the priority list for the current year as we are also on the verge of converting the Jawahar Dock (the previous coal berth) into a mid-size container berth. Besides, we are yet to take a decision on how to utilise the iron ore berth, which is lying idle,” the sources said.
EMRIP inauguration
Despite minor hiccups, Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan will inaugurate the Ennore Manali Road Improvement Project in December. It is expected that 90 per cent of the work would be over, except for shifting of tenements of NTO Kuppam and Cherian Nagar, which is located the Chennai Port zero gate.
“The project on Manali Oil Refinery Road was affected due to a delay in shifting water pipelines. The issue has been resolved and we hope the road widening work to be completed within two weeks. The Chennai Port officials will hold meetings with the Collectors of Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram soon to sort out the issue of shifting the tenements of NTO Kuppam and Cherian Nagar,” the sources said.
