Southern
Railway’s bureaucracy has expressed reservations about laying a seven kilometre
Port connectivity project for Cuddalore port saying that they would consider it
only when the cargo starts flowing into the port according to highly placed
shipping industry sources.
The sources said Rail connectivity is crucial for growth of cargo in the
port which was in disuse for nearly 35 years. It is a chicken
and egg scenario and the railway bureaucracy should realize a railway line
would bring fortunes to the port.
The state
Maritime board which is giving final shape to the rejuvenated Cuddalore port
has planned a last mile rail connectivity project covering the port as well as
the chemical industries situated in the nearby SIPCOT complex at a cost of Rs
eight crores. But the railways are dragging their feet, putting
conditionalities for implementing the project.
As for road
connectivity the port is situated barely a kilometre away from the National
highway 45A a two lane road linking Cuddalore with Chidambaram and Chennai. The
highway is being expanded to four lanes.
Cuddalore port is just seven kilometres away from the four lane New East coast
road now under construction linking Chennai with Nagapatinam via
Puducherry. An exclusive four lane link road is being planned to connect the Port
with the New East coast road.. So evacuation of cargo from the port is not an
issue.