Project report on Enayam port released: Union Minister

A detailed project report on the new port scheduled to come up in Kanyakumari district has been released, union minister of state for finance and shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan said Tuesday.

Under the Ministry's Sagarmala programme, it was announced that the new port (an international container trans-shipment terminal) at Enayam in Kanyakumari district would be set up, he said.

"The detailed project report has been released. We have to wait and see what are the steps that need to be taken to implement the project", he told reporters at the sidelines of an event organised by CII here.

He said several steps have been taken under the Sagarmala programme for developing various ports, including the V O Chidambaranar Port in Tuticorin.

Soon after the Centre announced the setting up of "Enayam Port", the project ran into rough weather with opposition from a section of locals.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami had announced in the Assembly that a special officer has been appointed to look into the impact of the port.

Radhakrishnan, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Kanyakumari district, has been batting for the project and blamed vested interests for the opposition.

Earlier, in his address at the "Port Conclave 2018" organised by the trade body, Radhakrishnan said the Ministry is implementing the Sagarmala programme by identifying as many as 577 projects at an estimated cost of Rs 8.57 lakh crore to be implemented during 2015-2035.

The investments would be on port development, connectivity and coastal community development, he said.

"Nearly 490 projects at an estimated cost of Rs 4.25 lakh crore are under various stages of implementation, development and completion", he said.

The port modernisation programme under Sagarmala would address the issue of reducing logistics cost, he added.