Chennai Port Plans Strategic Truck Yard Near Elevated Corridor to Ease Cargo Congestion

C Shivakumar @ Chennai:
In a bid to ease chronic congestion around Chennai Port and streamline cargo movement, port authorities are working closely with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Tamil Nadu government to set up a strategically located truck parking yard at the entry point of the upcoming Chennai Port–Maduravoyal elevated corridor.

The four-lane double-decker expressway, being developed by NHAI, aims to provide seamless connectivity between the port and the city’s western outskirts, bypassing congested arterial roads that have long hindered freight traffic. The 20.6-km corridor is considered a critical infrastructure project that could transform the logistics landscape of the city.

To support this effort, Chennai Port has proposed a dedicated truck holding area near the entry ramp of the corridor, enabling vehicles to wait for customs and terminal clearances without blocking port gates or spilling onto city roads. A formal request for a 10-acre plot was submitted during a Network Planning Group (NPG) meeting chaired by TIDCO’s Managing Director in May 2024, a port official confirmed.

Following a site review in July involving the Highways and Minor Ports Department, a parcel in Adayalampattu revenue village was identified. Joint inspections by port and NHAI officials in May 2025 found two adjoining plots—measuring 8.5 and 3.5 acres—suitable for the facility.

However, progress could be delayed by encroachments. A port official said two-thirds of the identified NHAI land is encroached, and assistance from the state government has been sought to clear the area. Construction is contingent on the resolution of this issue, and further action is now awaited from the state to clear the encroachments.

The proposed parking yard is expected to act as a vital logistics buffer, reducing vehicle idle time, improving turnaround, and contributing to smoother cargo flow at India’s second-busiest container port.

The site is part of a broader plan to develop extended port gates at two locations, aimed at decongesting access points and integrating more efficiently with the elevated corridor. In addition to the Adayalampattu site, Chennai Port has also requested the allocation of a TAMIN-owned land parcel near the MFL junction for a second extended gate. The proposals form part of the City Logistics Plan for the Chennai Metropolitan Area.