In this interview, Susanta Kumar Purohit, chair of the VOC Port Authority, describes the ambitious expansion strategy of the port, which is geared towards targeted transport plans from deeper improvements in the designs and improved hinterland connectivity.
The container gymnastics from VOC Port exceeds the ports in the USA and Australia. What are the key factors for this efficiency?
The VOC port has optimized the terminal process through smart port initiatives, process automation and strong coordination with operators such as DBGT and TICT. In contrast to overloaded gateways such as Los Angeles and Sydney, Tuticorin offers a faster ship round. The Direct system (Direct Port Entry) enables E-sealed export containers to be filled with factory to bypass container freight stations (CFSS) and domestic container depots (ICDS), which improves efficiency. Over 16 CFS within a radius of 10 km continues to support the operational fluidity.
How does the port are preparing for rising freight volume?
With the expansion of capacity and digitization, the VOC connection scales to process larger ships and higher freight volumes without increasing the costs. Infrastructure -upgrades, including lying extensions and deeper functions, ensure efficiency.
How do partnerships with private operators such as JM Baxi and JSW improve the skills of the port?
Private participation by TICT (JM Baxi), DBGT and JSW has significantly improved efficiency. DBGT and TICT keep global benchmarks and consistently achieve over 30 movements per hour. The Bulk terminal from JSW is set for full mechanization until March 2027. The expansion of the input channel to 230 m will absorb larger ships and increase industrial investments, including the EV unit of Vinfast, the solar modules from Tata Power and a proposed ship facility.
Are there logistics parks in the pipeline to support MSMES and reduce the costs?
The VOC port launched Tuticorin Speedz on the Sagarmala Coastal Coastal Coastal employment zone, which alluded to promoting the port industries. This initiative supports MSMES, promotes export -oriented production and lowers the logistics costs through proximity -based integration.
How much of EXIM freight is Colombo bypass and which sectors do this shift?
The VOC port acted over 795,000 teus in the 2024–25 financial year, which reflected growth of 7.52 percent. While exact figures for Colombo -Bypass are not revealed, better connectivity, direct shipping services and improving the infrastructure reduce dependence. The most important drivers include textiles, electronics, solar energy equipment and consumer goods, which lead to savings of the forex and shorter lead times for Indian exporters.
What role does Gangaikondan SEZ play when increasing the container volume?
The SEZ has the growth of the production and electronics of the solar panel, and companies such as Tata Solar and Vikram Solar Boosting Expors. DBGT and TICT, equipped with a 14.2 -m design and a 370 m -ka length, can process ships up to 8,000 teus to ensure efficient logistics for SEZ units.
Which infrastructure projects strengthen hinterland connectivity?
The VOC connection is well bound via NH 38 and NH 138, with six times the work reduces the traffic jam and transit time. The impending rail line of Madurai -Hothukudi will improve the efficiency of the freight evacuation and open new logistics corridors. Nhai and Indian Railways Partnerships aim to reduce the costs for TEU transport.
How does the VOC port use maritime positioning in East -West -Maritime?
The port instructs global airlines to create direct call routes and reduce the dependence on Colombo. Competition tariffs, lying extensions, dredging and freight handling investments improve the attractiveness of the VOC port.
How diversified VOC port beyond coal and container?
The port turns into a Green Energy Logistics Hub with investments, including:
- Acme green hydrogen: RS 27,000 Crore project over 222 acres.
- Sembcorp (Green Infra): RS 8,460 Crore investment over 149 acres.
- Amplus Ganges Solar & Renew-e-fuel: Development and production of green ammonia, which is expected to be launched by 2028.
What threats is VOC port and how is it preparing?
The VOC port deals with the development of an external port with two container terminals (4 million TEU capacity), the deepening of the excavator to 16 m and in the investment in smart logistics. By concentrating on green fuel logistics, hinterland connections and politically controlled incentives, VOC port aims to expand its market share and maintain its competitive advantages.
VOC port became an export of Windmühlenklingen Hub; Can you please throw some light on it?
VO Chidambaranar Hafen was an icon of India in the Windmill Blade Exports. In 2024-25 in 2024-25 in 2023-24, the port completed a number of blades in 96 windmill blade ships in 2024-25 and recorded impressive growth of 30 percent in 2023-24.
VOC Port Has a Number of Advantated to Suit the Exim Trade Like, Being to All-Weather Port That Facilitates Handling of Any Cargo All Through the Year, Best Of Its Class Hinterland Connectivity for Seamless and Conesion Free National Highway Network, Harbour Mobile Cranes Loading of Windmill Blades, Adequate Storage Space for Stacking Any Volume of Windmill Blades and Its Accessories Within The Custom Bound Area, Excellent and Skilled Workforce for Handling Sensitive Project Fracht.
What are capacity improvement projects done in the last financial year?
In the last fiscal year, VOC Port Enhanced Its Cargo Handling Capacity Through Major Infrastructure Upgrades, Including A New Container Terminal (Tuticorin International Container Terminal) with a capacity 7 Lakh Teus of Containers in September 2024, Bulk Cargo Terminal (JSW Tuticorin Multipurpose Terminal) with a capacity to handle 7 million tonnes of cargo, and expanded gymnastics circle and dredging in Front of NCB-3 in May 2025.
The most important developments also include a multi-purpose base in March 2025, the Link funding system in January 2025, and in April 2025, the direct port entrance system for export containers, on the idle capacity. In addition, the harbor marked a milestone for green energy by putting green energy in May 2025, the first Indian port, the handover of green energy plant. Port has assigned 501 hectares for green hydrogen/ammonia projects and applied 41,860 GBP in investments.
What is the mantra behind the ecosystem for the faster implementation of infrastructure projects in Tuticorin?
The remarkable pace of execution of the infrastructure project in the VOC port is powered by the all-weather ecosystem of Tuticorin, simple availability of the raw materials for the construction, good work culture, strategic planning and guidance of the ministry, shipping and waterways. VOC port uses regular interaction with the stakeholders of the port to assess the augmentation requirements and structured systems to monitor the progress of projects. The infrastructure structure was a platform for investors to easily carry out the project.
Lately, VOC port has been in the headlines to be the best in Green initiatives. Can you please go into this in more detail?
VOC Port leads the Green Port movement of India with a comprehensive sustainability strategy. It operates several solar and wind turbines that generated over 10.35 million green electricity units in the 2024–25 financial year and reduces CO₂ emissions by 8.49 million kg. It is the first large Indian port to exceed 1 MW in the solar capacity on the roof.
The port promotes green mobility through electric vehicles and EV charging stations. The port produces green hydrogen from its pilot project with a capacity of 10 NM3/day, in which certain street lamps in port colony and electric vehicles can compete. A green hydrogen bunker system and a dedicated terminal for windmill components are under development. The VOC port also works on the first corRidor of the coastal shipping corRidor India and explores green fuel ships with global ports.
In addition, the port launched India's first green harbor policy, whereby the environmentally friendly infrastructure, renewable energies, electric vehicles, water protection and sustainable operations are emphasized and its role as a leader in the maritime sustainability is determined.
Heads worldwide occupy artificial intelligence, smart port technologies and simple business initiatives to increase efficiency and minimize time administrators. What steps have VOC ports undertaking to align themselves with these progress?
India's first local shipping system to optimize ship movements and the minimization of overload and lying delays were commissioned in the port. The RFID -based port gate management of Port has made it easier to monitor real -time gate and the seamless movement of trucks. With the newly ordered facility for direct port entry (the), it enables factories and exporters to deliver containers directly to the port terminal instead of using container freight stations (CFS). Due to the drive drive through the container scanner, 100 vehicles can scan per hour to recognize suspicious material, which improves the efficiency of the port evacuation.
The VOC port is working on the implementation of AI and IoT technologies to create an intelligent, green and secure port. Port will order a street lighting system and water sprinkler system in IoT in Coal Yard. The port also examines various ways of automation, AI and IoT, digital twin, 5G technology with IIT Chennai.