Chennai Port has completed 3 export-import godowns and leased out the space

In what could help cargo handling capacity, efficiency, and increase revenue, the Chennai Port Authority has finally completed three of the export-import (EXIM) godowns. The port has already leased out this space, and it is currently being used to store rice and steel coils. This comes at a time when the port has been placing increased focus on non-containerised cargo such as food grains, agricultural products, and other commodities.

The authority had taken up the work to build four EXIM godowns at a cost of ₹73.91 crore — which are covered warehouses for storing sensitive cargo — in November 2024, and the godowns were slated for completion early this year. While three of these godowns have been built already, the last one is nearly finished and will be ready soon.

Sources said the delay occurred due to the West Asia crisis this year. “The supply of roofing materials and fuel were affected by the West Asia conflict. This was accepted by the Ministry as well. Now, the work has been completed on three godowns, and they are being used,” a source said.

Chennai Port Authority officials said the godowns were built over a total area of 18,000 sq.m, with each one spread over 4,500 sq.m. The main reason behind establishing this infrastructure is to create safe storage for cargo such as food grains, agricultural products and other commodities that require clean and covered spaces for storage, so that they are not affected by weather conditions.

Officials said that while rice and steel coils were now being stored, in the coming weeks, they expected to see other cargo to reach the port. It is also to be noted that these types of non-containerised cargo inflow has been slowly increasing at the port after the launch of the Non-Containerised Cargo Incentive Scheme (NCCS) three months ago, which aims to incentivise firms to import and export such types of cargo by offering them concessions.