Plan to set up dry port in Tiruchi hangs in balance as land is yet to be identified

The proposal on establishing a dry port, an inland container depot, in Tiruchi hangs in balance because of the slow process of identifying suitable land.

It has been a long-felt need of the trade and industry of the region. Tiruchi has emerged as one of the fastest growing export hubs in the State. A wide range of goods, including engineering equipment, spare parts, fabricated materials, food products, millets, and perishables such as vegetables and fruits are exported. While the exporters use the excellent air connectivity from Tiruchi to export vegetables and fruits, they depend on Chennai, Thoothukudi, Karaikal, or Kochi port to export other items.

It is estimated that about 40 to 50 containers, with a capacity of 25 tonnes each, are transported by road every month from Tiruchi to these seaports. Industrialists and exporters from the region face high transport and handling costs, along with time-consuming formalities at the ports. If a dry port is established in Tiruchi, exporters can complete the required documentation and other procedures locally, significantly reducing cost and time. To press their demand, the representatives of trade and industrial bodies had sent several representatives to the Union and State government authorities and the elected representatives.

Land allotment

Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko had taken up the issue and met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and a few other Ministers in New Delhi. They reportedly told him that the Union government would do the needful if suitable land was allotted for establishing a dry port in Tiruchi. The MP subsequently met Tiruchi Collector V. Saravanan and urged him to take steps to allot 21 acres of land.

According to sources, the revenue officials were said to be facing difficulties in identifying 21 acres of land at a stretch. They came forward to allot seven acres of land near Tiruchi. However, it did not take off further as 7 acres of land was insufficient to set up a dry port.

Mr. Durai Vaiko said that the officials had sounded positive over the allocation of land. Several plots at SIPCOT industrial park near Manapparai were still available. It was an ideal location to set up the dry port since it was located on the Tiruch-Dindigul Highway. It could serve well to the industrial units being set up at the SIPCOT complex. He would take up the demand with the State Ministers and the senior officials.