V O Chidambaranar Port at Tuticorin has planned a major expansion of its handling capacity. The port will carry out various developmental works to the tune of Rs 1,531 crores to augment its capacity by a further 44 million tonne. The Port Trust Chairman, S Anantha Chandra Bose stated that during this financial year 2016-17, the port has targeted to award development of shallow draught berth for handling general cargo, development of north cargo berth- III for handling coal, development of north cargo berth- IV for handling containers and clean cargo.
It has also planned installation of 5MW solar power plant on power purchase system, construction of truck parking terminal, upgradation of coal jetty-I and coal jetty-II, construction of shallow draught berth for handling construction material and deployment of additional harbour mobile cranes at III and IV berths at a total estimated cost of Rs 1531.31 crore resulting in capacity addition of 44 million tonnes.