Tamil Nadu govt backs Vandalur-Ennore Port rail link

C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Tamil Nadu government has urged Ennore Port to examine connecting the port to southern Tamil Nadu through the existing southern railway line at Vandalur which would benefit the entire state.
Sources told Express that a high level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary was held on February 12, which discussed Ennore Port’s proposal to use 22-metre strip of land across the Outer Ring Road for rail link between Ennore Port and Nemilichery. During the meeting the state has also asked Ennore Port to examine the feasibility of forming two tracks that should facilitate passenger and goods traffic.
The state government felt that Ennore Port has only proposed to provide rail linkages from Nandiambakkam to Avadi and they should also examine connecting the port to southern Tamil Nadu through the existing southern railway line of Vandalur.
Interestingly, Ennore Port has put forth in its proposal that the rail route would provide connectivity between Ennore and Mumbai, Bangalore and the rest of the state. It further stated that the rail link has potential to connect the industrial hub of Sriperumbudur and Oragadam.
The proposal by Ennore Port comes as it plans to expand its cargo capacity from 30 million tonnes to 66 million tonnes per annum.
The Outer Ring Road was evolved as part of the recommendations of first master plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area to relieve the traffic congestion in the city by connecting the national highway in Chennai Metropolitan Area. The 62.3 km long outer ring road connects NH 45 (GST Road) at Vandalur, NH 4 (GWT Road) at Nazarathpet, NH 205 (CTH Road) at Nemilicherry(Thiruninravur), NH 5 (GNT Road) at Nallur and TPP road at Minjur.

Sources said during the meeting it was also discussed that if the land reserved for rail system put into use for freight traffic will affect the passenger transit. Following which Ennore Port was asked to examine the feasibility of forming two tracks, which should facilitate passenger and goods traffic.

Box:

--  After Ennore Port Limited (EPL) Board’s in principle approval, EPL forwarded the proposal to Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Government of Tamilnadu on November 2012

-- The state government discusses the project during a high level meeting chaired by chief secretary on February 12, 2013

--  After approval by State Government, the proposal will be forwarded to Ministry of Railways under the participative models for rail-connectivity and capacity augmentation projects

--- The land portion of state government is likely to be converted and treated as equity.

The expected Rail Traffic from Ennore Port in ORR Proposal:

TNEB Coal evacuation to Mettur -7 rakes per day.

Non-TNEB Coal evacuation - 5 rakes per day.

Iron Ore Inward - 6 rakes per day.

Container Terminal (under proposal) - 11 rakes per day.

Expected 29 rakes for one way direction. Rakes per day on both direction is 58 rakes.

The need for rail connectivity:

Connects directly the Ennore Port to the hinterlands of Mumbai, Karnataka, Kerala and south & west Tamil Nadu.

Avoids the heavily congested Chennai city rail route. Thus provides unhindered and seamless freight movement connectivity.

Future possibility of connecting the industrial hubs of Sriperumbudur and Oragadam.

Augmentation of the proposed Chennai-Bangalore Industrial corridor.

Rail portion of the ORR corridor will be put to use immediately.

Socio-economic development of the entire stretch along the corridor in Tiruvallur & Kanchipuram districts