<p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_fa3578b8ca3a756f-129" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="26" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">V.O. <span class="citation-312" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Authority</span></b><span class="citation-312" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> is significantly accelerating a multi-faceted infrastructure development drive and operational modernization roadmap to meet escalating cargo demand across Southern India, with total throughput projected to cross </span><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="279" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">53.25 million tonnes (MT) by FY 2029–30</b><span class="citation-312 citation-end-312" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c751612964="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c751612964="" _nghost-ng-c3653149479="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="6" id="p-rc_fa3578b8ca3a756f-130" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-311" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The port handled </span><b data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="17" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">14.73 million tonnes of cargo up to July 2026</b><span class="citation-311 citation-end-311" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> (including 2.95 lakh TEUs of container traffic and 8.84 MT of bulk cargo).<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-310 citation-end-310" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">To sustain this growth trajectory, the port authority is executing extensive upgrades spanning container terminals, multi-cargo berths, bonded storage zones, rail marshalling tracks, and dedicated maritime support utilities.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c751612964="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c751612964="" _nghost-ng-c3653149479="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h3 data-path-to-node="8" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Key Infrastructure Projects &amp; Operational Highlights</h3><ul data-path-to-node="9" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0" id="p-rc_fa3578b8ca3a756f-131" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Upgrading Berth No. 7 into Modern Container Terminal:</b> VOC Port is converting Berth No. <span class="citation-309" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">7 into a modern container terminal at an estimated cost of </span><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="146" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">₹517.19 crore</b><span class="citation-309" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, adding an annual capacity of </span><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="190" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">4.2 lakh TEUs</b><span class="citation-309 citation-end-309" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-308" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The 370-meter berth’s draft is being deepened from 11.7 meters to </span><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="271" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">14.20 meters</b><span class="citation-308 citation-end-308" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, allowing it to accommodate mainline container vessels of up to 12,100 TEUs (scheduled for completion by March 2029).<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c751612964="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c751612964="" _nghost-ng-c3653149479="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0" id="p-rc_fa3578b8ca3a756f-132" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Multi-Cargo Berth No. 10 Progress:</b> Construction of Multi Cargo Berth No. <span class="citation-307" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">10 (₹87.38 crore) has achieved approximately </span><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="118" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">70% physical progress</b><span class="citation-307" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> and is targeted for commissioning by </span><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="177" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">November 30, 2026</b><span class="citation-307 citation-end-307" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. The berth will offer an initial throughput of 4 MTPA, scalable to 10.22 MTPA once dredged to 14.20 meters.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c751612964="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c751612964="" _nghost-ng-c3653149479="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0" id="p-rc_fa3578b8ca3a756f-133" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">40-Acre Custom Bond Area &amp; Storage Expansion:</b> <span class="citation-306" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">To boost cargo evacuation and storage bandwidth, the port is developing an additional 40-acre Custom Bond Area at a cost of </span><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="170" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">₹61.64 crore</b><span class="citation-306 citation-end-306" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, facilitating smoother transit and supporting port-led industrialization.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c751612964="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c751612964="" _nghost-ng-c3653149479="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,3,0" id="p-rc_fa3578b8ca3a756f-134" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,3,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Enhanced Rail Marshalling Yard &amp; Multi-Modal Logistics:</b> The port has completed infrastructure enhancements across its <b data-path-to-node="9,3,0" data-index-in-node="118" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">65,830 sq. <span class="citation-305" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">meter Marshalling Yard (₹5.34 crore)</span></b><span class="citation-305 citation-end-305" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, bolstering its capability to handle high-density bulk movements and finished automobile rake evacuations via Indian Railways.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="8" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c751612964="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c751612964="" _nghost-ng-c3653149479="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,4,0" id="p-rc_fa3578b8ca3a756f-135" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,4,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Crucial Supporting &amp; Seafarer Amenities:</b> <span class="citation-304" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Long-term auxiliary projects include a dedicated Seafarers Club at VOC Wharf (completion by October 2026) and strategic utility developments designed to support future expansions such as the </span><b data-path-to-node="9,4,0" data-index-in-node="232" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Outer Harbour Project</b><span class="citation-304" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, the </span><b data-path-to-node="9,4,0" data-index-in-node="259" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Offshore Wind Power Terminal</b><span class="citation-304" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, and the </span><b data-path-to-node="9,4,0" data-index-in-node="297" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Coastal Employment Unit</b><span class="citation-304 citation-end-304" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1742526798="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1742526798="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="9" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c751612964="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul>