Pondicherry port will be commissioned in August: Minister

Talking to news persons after inspecting the developmental work being undertaken at the port, Kandasamy said the Puducherry Port had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chennai port for handling cargo. The facility in the union territory was being developed as a satellite port of Chennai harbour, he added. 

The estuary was being dredged and deepened to ensure smooth passage of cargo vessels, he said, adding that the works would be completed in another one month and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy would commission the port in August. 

A revenue to the tune of Rs 10 crore was expected by way of handling cargo and it would generate employment in a big way, the Minister said.  It may be noted that Puducherry port was non-functional for some time and the new Congress government had entered into a MoU with the Chennai port to handle containers. 

Accordingly, all facilities for same was being developed at the port. For the first year, four lakh tonnes of cargo would be handled, which would be enhanced to 10 lakh tonnes in a phased manner in the years to come. AIADMK legislator A Anbazhagan, Port director Rajendran and other officials accompanied Kandasamy.