The Central government’s move to establish a seaport at Colachel in Kanyakumari district will not affect the growth of Tuticorin seaport, Minister of State for Shipping and Highways Pon. Radhakrishnan said here on Thursday.
The Centre announced Rs 11,000 crore in the Union budget for development of the outer harbour in V. O. Chidambaranar Port. The Colachel port would play a supportive role in the development of maritime economy, he told the media. He said the Centre was keen on implementing the Sethusamudram ship channel project.
Referring to the ‘Make in India’ campaign, he said more investments were expected to come. He said the Tuticorin-based Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation had resumed its production in full swing after a gap of almost three years with the support of the Centre. Mr Radhakrishnan expressed his wish to convert the East Coast Road into a four-lane express highway. The Centre would fully support development projects in Tamil Nadu and the State government should concentrate more on development on all fronts.
The Bharatiya Janata Party would emerge as a strong alternative to the major Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu, he said. BJP president Amit Shah had fixed a target of 60 lakh members in the ongoing enrolment drive in Tamil Nadu and two lakh members were expected to join the party from Tuticorin district.
