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The MARG Group is interested in the project of the Tamil Nadu Government to upgrade the Nagapattinam port as an all-weather, deep-water, direct berthing green-field port at a cost of Rs 380 crore.
The Chennai-based infrastructure company operates the private MARG Karaikal port, which is located 12 km north of Nagapatinam port. It could be a major beneficiary in the long run by having two ports under its control in close distance.
interesting proposition
“Development of Nagapattinam port is definitely an interesting proposition and we can explore the opportunity depending on the final plan from the Government of Tamil Nadu.
"We will be keenly observing the developments and will discuss with the authorities concerned at an appropriate time,” said the MARG Group Chairman and Managing Director, Mr G.R.K. Reddy.
“Nagapattinam and MARG Karaikal port together will have the potential to ensure that central Tamil Nadu becomes a preferred maritime destination propelling industrial activities, consolidating export-import trade and ushering regional prosperity,” he told Business Line .
MARG Karaikal Port has emerged as a port on call for the industrially rich and ever increasing hinterland of central Tamil Nadu.
The port has been serving many prestigious clients catering to a diverse cargo mix.
Handling capacity
Currently the port handles capacity to the tune of 28 MTPA (million tonnes a year) and is on schedule to handle 47 MTPA of cargo by 2018.
With huge potential for maritime trade in this hinterland, MARG Karaikal Port has geared to meet the demands in a phased manner.
This will give a major boost to the shipping trade in region, which, at present, has a choice in the form of the private Karaikal port in the neighbouring Puducherry.
Once upgraded, in the first year, the port will be able to handle 10 lakh tonnes of cargo and provide revenues of Rs 20 crore.
In 25 years, the port will handle around 60 lakh tonnes earning revenue of Rs 120 crore, according to a State Government press release. Nagapatinam port, situated at the Kaduvaiyaru river mouth, was once catering to the Singapore passenger trade.
Due to the change in the Union Government policies, the import of food grains and fertilisers also got reduced.
Currently, small volumes of edible oil is being imported. Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd has constructed an open sea jetty near the northern port limit of this port to handle crude oil and petroleum products of their refinery located nearby.
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