CHENNAI: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated and laid foundation stones for port infrastructure projects worth approximately Rs 219 crore at Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port (Ennore) on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening coastal protection, safety systems, healthcare facilities and digital operations.
At Chennai Port Authority, four projects with a combined investment of over Rs 129 crore were inaugurated. These include the strengthening of nearly 850 metres of the eastern breakwater, where the revetment has been upgraded with redesigned slopes and tetrapod armouring to improve protection against storms and cyclones.
A new firefighting pump house was commissioned at the oil dock areas of Bharati Dock 1 and 3 to enhance emergency preparedness in hazardous zones. The port also inaugurated the modernisation of Chennai Port Hospital, upgrading it into a 125-bed facility spread across 1.27 lakh sq ft, with improved wards, operation theatres, diagnostics and safety systems.
The fourth project is the launch of an Enterprise Business System, an integrated SAP-based digital platform designed to reduce paperwork, cut delays and improve turnaround time for port users.
At Kamarajar Port, foundation stones for two infrastructure projects were laid, and an e-Port Clearance Portal was also launched to enable electronic port clearance for shipping lines and agents.
The two infrastructure projects include a Rs 1.39 crore northern access road connectivity project, involving the realignment of a 360 metre stretch of the port's boundary wall to facilitate faster cargo evacuation.
The port also completed the rehabilitation of a 202-metre damaged section of the northern breakwater, for Rs 104.56 crore, using heavy tetrapods and rock armouring designed by IIT Madras. "These projects will strengthen port resilience, improve safety and speed up operations, contributing to lower logistics costs and more efficient cargo movement," the minister said.
Together, Chennai and Kamarajar ports crossed 100 million tonnes of cargo handling in 2025 for the first time. Chennai Port handles about 1.8 million standard shipping containers annually, while Kamarajar Port handled 48.41 million tonnes of bulk and liquid cargo last year, with utilisation exceeding 80 per cent of its capacity.