Maritime research facility proposed at VOC port

THOOTHUKUDI: VOC Port Trust chairman A Subbiah called on the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to discuss development at the port.In order to augment the existing capacity of 23.72 million tonnes, the port has taken up infrastructure development projects. It has planned to handle about 100 million tonnes of cargo by 2020. Recently, a passenger service was launched between Thoothukudi and Colombo, bringing Thoothukudi on to the tourism map. The port is preparing a project report for an outer harbour since the inner harbour development works would reach saturation point.  According to Subbiah, the port has around 2398.34 acres of land comprising patta land, revenue poromboke land and Port Trust acquired land. After allotment of more than 60 percent of the land on long-term basis to various State, Central government and public sector organisations, and using 20 percent of the land for port related services, the balance land available is a meager 388.55 acres only. This is not sufficient for future development of the port. The ministry of shipping has taken a policy decision to set up two international size shipyards—one on the East Coast and the other on the West Coast of India. As the VOC Port is  close to the international sea route, an international size shipyard  has been proposed at Thoothukudi. Subbiah submitted a proposal to the Chief Secretary for transfer of about 2,185 acres of poromboke land at Thoothukudi on July 25 in the Secretariat. A maritime research facility, considering the location of the port in the Gulf of Mannar biosphere, has also been proposed.