The success of the ₹5,100 crore outer harbour project at Chennai port hinges on a good connectivity (both rail and road), which is a major concern for the port users.

The project, which is in the bidding stage, is to handle clean cargo. It has replaced the earlier plan of the Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) to build a mega container terminal, which did not evoke interest from bidders mainly due to the poor connectivity.

Currently, 14 per cent of cargo to / from the port is handled through rail, 59 per cent by road and 27 per cent by pipeline. This should change with more dependence on rail to decongest the road. Coastal shipping is another mode of transport that should be explored in future, sources said.

The elevated expressway from the port to Maduravoyal was the most important connectivity project taken up by the National Highways Authority of India. However, it has been stalled due to objection raised by the present State government on alignment. Also, the Ennore-Manali road project is stuck in the last mile connectivity issue that is affecting free flow of container traffic towards the Chennai port’s northern side.

The outer harbour is envisaged north of the existing Bharathi Dock and East of the existing operational fishing harbour at Kasimedu. It will be taken up under a private-public-partnership model.

The private developer will be responsible to develop marine, land side and ancillary infrastructure. The port trust will provide basic infrastructure facilities like construction of breakwaters, dredging of basin or channels, maintenance dredging of outer harbour channel and land reclamation.

A fully operational container terminal with a capacity of 4 million TEUs will involve a daily movement of over 10,000 vehicles adding to the existing traffic of about 2,500 vehicles. Considering all other traffic flow (of cars /break bulk and bulk), there will be an addition of 500 vehicles. The existing road facility, entry /exit points, roads within the port premises or the proposed outer harbour, the process and procedures of the terminals, port, Customs and security do we have the capability to churn around a vehicle every 10 second or the infrastructure to support the volume, the sources asked.

Connectivity issue should be sorted out quickly. Rail connectivity, barge movement and satellite cargo handling facility should be a part of a master plan to develop the port and not just selling space for royalty, according to sources.

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