Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Monday inaugurated and laid the foundation for projects totally worth over ₹1,500 crore at the V O Chidambaranar Port in Thoothukudi.
The minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for initiatives like upgraded rail and road connectivity, enhanced power infrastructure, renewable energy integration (including solar, wind, battery storage, and green hydrogen production), advanced safety systems, and digital platforms.
These projects will improve cargo evacuation efficiency, shorten vessel turnaround times, strengthen multimodal logistics, and elevate operational safety, the VOC Port Authority said in a statement.
The projects will extend benefits far beyond the port, lowering logistics costs for trade, spurring industrial expansion—including shipbuilding and manufacturing—in Thoothukudi , Tirunelveli, and Madurai districts, attracting investment, creating employment, and stimulating sectors such as renewable energy, logistics, and tourism.
Socio-economic fabric
The Maritime Heritage Museum inaugurated today will enrich the socio-economic fabric of southern Tamil Nadu.
The minister said that V O C Port is undertaking transformative initiatives — from shipbuilding and the Outer Harbour Project to wide-ranging green measures — that will redefine the economic landscape of the entire region. These efforts will strengthen its position as a major transhipment hub, enabling it to compete with and, in time, surpass Colombo and other leading regional ports.
Published on February 23, 2026