Sonowal unveils off ₹235 crore upgrades at Chennai and Kamarajar ports

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, unveiled a series of port infrastructure and digital governance initiatives worth ₹235 crore at the Chennai and Kamarajar ports. According to the press release, the investments are designed to bolster India’s maritime competitiveness through climate-resilient engineering and streamlined digital operations.

The total financial outlay is divided between the two major hubs, with ₹129.36 crore allocated to projects at the Chennai Port Authority and ₹105.64 crore directed toward Kamarajar Port.

"These projects underscore the Centre’s commitment to building globally competitive, climate-resilient, and digitally enabled ports, while improving the ease of doing business and coastal safety," Minister Sonowal stated during the launch.

At the Chennai Port Authority, the Minister laid foundation stones for three major projects focused on safety and public service. This includes a ₹33.28 crore initiative to repair and strengthen 850 meters of coastal revetment behind the coastal berth using climate-resilient designs.

To enhance industrial safety, a new ₹43 crore firefighting pump house will be constructed at the oil dock area. This facility will provide high-capacity infrastructure compliant with OISD safety norms to protect critical energy-security assets. Additionally, ₹8.08 crore was committed to modernising the Chennai Port Hospital, upgrading its wards, operation theaters, and diagnostic services.

A central highlight of the Chennai visit was the inauguration of the enterprise business system (EBS). Developed at a cost of ₹45 crore, this SAP-based integrated platform unifies finance, port operations, human resources, and customer services into a single digital backbone. The system is expected to significantly increase transparency and operational efficiency.

At Kamarajar Port the Minister inaugurated the rehabilitated Northern Breakwater Head, a ₹105 crore project. The 202-meter structure, which was previously damaged by cyclones Thane and Nilam, has been reinforced with 3,035 new 25MT tetrapods to ensure navigational safety. He also laid the foundation stone for a new ₹1.39 crore boundary wall at the north-west boundary to improve logistics efficiency and access control via the Northern Port Access Road.

Expanding the scope to a national level, Minister Sonowal launched the e-port clearance portal as part of the One Nation–One Port (ONOP) initiative. This digital tool allows for the online submission and issuance of Port Clearance Certificates.