Karaikal port?s mechanised coal-handling project on fast track
Karaikal Port is setting up a mechanised coal-handling facility through a fully-automated conveyor belt at a cost of Rs 600 crore. The project would be completed within two months, according to port officials.

The Chairman and Managing Director of the port GRK Reddy said more than 300 technicians were working on the mechanisation and the work would be completed within 60 days.

According to him, the six-km long conveyor belt would take the coal directly to wagons for inland transit from ships, preventing the coal particles from flowing into the air. Locals are complaining about environment pollution caused by the present manual handling of coal and have staged protested against this. Reddy said the port was directed by the Puducherry pollution control committee to install the belt system to minimise pollution.