Centre Allocates ₹93,000 Cr for Tamil Nadu Port Projects

quick Summary

• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the green hydrogen plant at VOC Port, Thoothukudi, alongside laying the foundation stone for projects worth ₹350 crore.
• VOC Port becomes India’s first port to produce green hydrogen, which will power street lights and e-cars. The initiative aims to attract ₹41,000 crore investment and potentially establish a green hydrogen hub.
• Over 11 years, ₹93,715 crore has been allocated for 98 projects across Chennai Port Trust, Kamarajar Port in chennai, and VOC Port under the ‘SagarMala’ program.

– Outcomes include increased cumulative cargo handling capacity from 167 million tonnes to 338 million tonnes per annum. ship turnaround time at VOC Port has improved from 94 hours to 46 hours.

• From these projects: 50 are completed; 19 ongoing; and the remaining in various implementation phases.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed for constructing a shipbuilding and repair yard near VOC Port with an equal partnership between Tamil Nadu government and port authorities.
• India aims to be among the top five global players in shipbuilding by its centenary year in 2047 thru infrastructure upgrades and workforce investments.
• Other inaugurated facilities include conveyor systems for coal handling, solar plants (400kW), wind energy (6MW), maritime heritage museum foundations, refueling/bunkering setups for green methanol.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The developments at VOC Port signal notable strides toward modernizing India’s maritime infrastructure while advancing environmental sustainability goals through renewable initiatives like green hydrogen production.The combined use of solar power and wind farms further underscores efforts toward energy efficiency within critical transport hubs.

The SagarMala allocations highlight long-term commitment to creating competitive ports that effectively handle increasing cargo volumes while reducing logistical inefficiencies such as turnaround times-a vital metric for global trade competitiveness. India’s aspiration of becoming a dominant player globally in shipbuilding aligns well with this ecosystem-driven infrastructure growth plan.The MoU connecting Tamil Nadu’s state resources with federal initiatives reflects an encouraging model of cooperative federalism aimed at catalyzing industrial development near strategic ports-potentially boosting regional economies while connecting them more firmly into global supply chains.

While ministerial statements envision ambitious outcomes like positioning India within top rankings by specific timelines (2030/2047), their fulfillment depends heavily on sustained investments complemented by robust policy frameworks that integrate clean energy goals into expanding industrial activities seamlessly.Read more: Source link