Vasan reviews performance of Chennai and Ennore

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on July 23, 2011:

Source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/vasan-reviews-performance-of-chennai-and-ennore/296935.html

CHENNAI: Taking stock of the financial and operational capabilities of the homestate ports personally, Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan on Friday held meetings with top officials of the Chennai and Ennore ports.He reviewed the performance of the Chennai Port with its chairman Atulya Misra at the port premises in the morning and in the evening, chaired a similar review meeting on Ennore Port premises where S Velumani, chairmancummanaging director of the port, explained him the status of the different projects there.

During the meetings, the Minister fixed specific deadlines for all development projects and directed officials to adhere to the deadlines for achieving sustained growth.

Official sources said that the strategy to improve the traffic and trade through Chennai Port in the context of the possible shifting of coal and iron ore to Ennore Port following directions in the recent HC judgment, was discussed in detail and the potential for alternative cargoes was also assessed.The Minister also had a thorough review on the impact of the judgment on the future of Chennai Port.

Concluding his review at Chennai port, Vasan appreciated the efforts put in by the port officers and workers in achieving positive growth in traffic compared to the previous years in spite of connectivity problems and reduction in volumes of iron ore and coal. He expressed confidence that the port would successfully encounter currentchallenges.

At the review meeting in Ennore, Vasan directed the port to showcase its fully mechanised and environmentfriendly cargo handling terminals, particularly, the Common User Coal Terminal in the light of the recent judgment given by the HC regarding shifting of dusty cargo from Chennai Port Trust to Ennore Port.

While reviewing the Container Terminal project at Ennore port, the Minister emphasised the need for early implementation of the project.

The Minister also conducted a joint review of the port connectivity projects relating to Chennai and Ennore ports and the elevated port link to Maduravoyal with government and port officials.