Centre lays foundation stone for development of outer harbor container terminal project at VOC Port

The central government laid foundation stone for development of outer harbour container terminal project, including dredging and construction of breakwater at the V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port on February 28, 2024. The project involves development of two container terminals of 1,000 metres quay length each in the outer harbour. The capacity of the two container terminals is assessed to be 80 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) (4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) each). It also involves construction of breakwater, capital dredging in the outer harbour basin and approach channel, construction of rubble bund for reclamation of dredged materials for creation of backup yard, berth/jetty construction, mechanisation in the berth and stack yard, railway line laying, navigational aids etc. It will be carried out in two stages. Stage I involves development of container terminal-I including construction of breakwaters, dredging and other common facilities. It is expected to be completed in 36 months at an estimated cost of Rs 44.94 billion. Stage II involves development of container terminal-II. It is expected to be completed in 24 months at an estimated cost of Rs 25.61 billion. The project is being implemented on design, build, finance, operate, transfer (DBFOT) basis through public private partnership (PPP) mode.