Chennai, Sept 17: A 13-member media delegation from Kashmir on Wednesday visited Chennai Port Authority and got a first-hand look at its cargo-handling operations, modern infrastructure, digital systems and plans to expand its capacity as a major maritime gateway on India’s east coast.
During an interaction with the delegation, K. Ravi Kumar, Chief Engineer and Deputy Chairperson (I/c), Chennai Port Authority, briefed journalists about the functioning of the port, its infrastructure, cargo movement and upcoming projects.
The visit was organised by PIB Srinagar to provide journalists from Jammu & Kashmir an opportunity to understand major industrial, technological and infrastructure projects in different parts of the country.
Chennai Port operates round the clock and in all weather conditions. It has three major docks and 27 berths, with a stated overall capacity of around 136 million tonnes. The port handles containers, automobiles, liquid cargo and dry bulk cargo. Its two major container terminals have a combined capacity of around 3.1 million TEUs.
According to the officials, the port has emerged as an important hub for containers, automobiles and project cargo on the east coast. According to figures shared by the port, it handled 54.96 million tonnes of cargo during 2024-25, compared with 51.60 million tonnes in 2023-24. Container traffic also rose to 1,818,017 TEUs in 2024-25 from 1,589,540 TEUs in the previous year.
Officials A major focus of the interaction was the port’s ongoing digital transformation.
Journalists were briefed about port’s ongoing digital transformation. They said systems including the Vessel Traffic Management System, digital gates, real-time cargo scanning and round-the-clock single-window services aimed at facilitating cargo movement and reducing delays.
The port is also preparing for a major expansion through the proposed ₹17,700-crore Outer Harbour Project. The project involves reclamation of around 90 hectares and creation of more than two kilometres of new quay length. It is proposed to enable the port to handle very large container vessels with capacities of up to 24,000 TEUs.
Another major project is a 21-km elevated corridor connecting Chennai Port with Maduravoyal. The project, along with a proposed Multimodal Logistics Park, is aimed at improving connectivity and easing the movement of cargo between the port and the wider transport network.
“We are also planning to prepare a separate 6-lane corridor to skip Chennai city as movement of containers during peak hours becomes hectic and a dedicated corridor will ease the ferrying of containers,” Kumar added.
The delegation also visited the recently upgraded Cruise Terminal. The terminal has been modernised at a cost of around ₹22 crore, with its passenger-handling capacity increased from 400 to 800 passengers at a time. Officials explained the facilities available for the arrival and departure of cruise ships and passengers.
Chennai Port also has an extensive internal rail network. The port has around 41 km of railway lines and eight sidings for handling different categories of cargo, while separate sidings are available for containers. It also operates a terminal shunting yard and its own railway operations within the harbour.
The port’s container facilities include modern quay cranes, rubber-tyred gantry cranes, reefer plugs and daily inland container depot train services. The first dedicated container terminal at Chennai was commissioned in 1983, followed by a second container terminal in 2009.
The delegation was also taken around different facilities before undertaking a harbour tour on a commercial vessel. The delegation’s harbour tour provided journalists an opportunity to observe ships, docks, container terminals and other maritime infrastructure from close quarters.
The interaction also highlighted Chennai Port’s long-term focus on four areas—containers, cars, cruise and clean cargo—as it seeks to expand its role in India’s maritime trade.
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