Keeping in mind future growth, the Ennore Port Limited (EPL) has proposed to Southern Railway to provide one more rail link – north link.
Initially, the 26-km-long ‘y'-shaped link will be on a single track connecting the port with the Chennai-Gudur mainline. It will terminate close to Anupambattu station, according to EPL Chairman-cum-Managing Director S. Velumani.
At present, the port has 6-km-long south rail link, connecting its coal and iron ore stack yards and the North Chennai Thermal Power Station with Attipattu and Attipattu-Pudhunagar railway stations.
>Here is a map illustrating the proposed North link and the South rail link.
One portion of the proposed link would culminate at coal and iron ore stack yards and the other portion at the upcoming container terminals. A component of the rail link project is to cover the container terminals, which are under construction.
According to the EPL's plan, the proposed track would have to be upgraded into double track eventually.
Approximately, the cost of the new link project would be Rs. 150 crore.
“The existing south rail connectivity would not be able to handle the volume and hence we have proposed the new line. We have submitted a feasibility report to the Railway authorities,” Mr Velumani says, adding that “if there is congestion in the south rail network, we will move the freight through the north rail link and vice versa.”
Initially, the port was meant for receiving coal for the Thermal Power Station. But, considering the growth potential, hinterland connectivity and its proximity to booming industrial units, it has become a multi-cargo port,” he points out.
During 2010-11, EPL handled 11.01 million cargo and 1.60 lakh cars in 18 months. By 2015-16, EPL's production capacity would be enhanced to 72 million tonnes and two lakh cars. This would include 18 million tonnes of containers and eight million tonnes of non-TNEB coal. About six million tonnes of non-TNEB coal would be moved by rail.
