A senior Union government official on Wednesday inaugurated and laid foundation stones for port infrastructure projects worth about ?2.19 billion at two major ports in Chennai, aimed at strengthening coastal protection, safety systems, healthcare facilities and digital operations. At one port, four projects with a combined investment of over ?1.29 billion were inaugurated. These included the strengthening of nearly 850 metres of the eastern breakwater, with the revetment upgraded through redesigned slopes and tetrapod armouring to improve protection against storms and cyclones. A new firefighting pump house was commissioned in oil dock areas to enhance emergency preparedness in hazardous zones. The port also inaugurated the modernisation of its hospital, upgrading it into a 125-bed facility spread across around 127,000 square feet, with improved wards, operation theatres, diagnostic facilities and enhanced safety systems. Another project involved the launch of an integrated enterprise-level digital platform designed to reduce paperwork, cut delays and improve turnaround time for port users by streamlining operations. At the second port, foundation stones were laid for two infrastructure projects and an electronic port clearance portal was launched to enable online clearances for shipping lines and agents. One project involves a ?0.014 billion northern access road connectivity initiative, including the realignment of a 360-metre stretch of the port’s boundary wall to facilitate faster cargo evacuation. The port has also completed the rehabilitation of a 202-metre damaged section of its northern breakwater at a cost of ?1.05 billion, using heavy tetrapods and rock armouring based on advanced engineering designs. Officials said the projects would strengthen port resilience, improve safety and accelerate operations, contributing to lower logistics costs and more efficient cargo movement. Together, the two ports crossed 100 million tonnes of cargo handling in 2025 for the first time. One port handles about 1.8 million standard shipping containers annually, while the other handled 48.41 million tonnes of bulk and liquid cargo last year, with utilisation exceeding 80 per cent of its capacity.
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