The Tiruchy district administration is considering a land pooling model to push forward the long-pending proposal for a dry port (inland container depot/ICD), a move aimed at strengthening regional logistics and lowering export-related costs.
Officials said the identification and pooling of suitable land, with the consent of the Tamil Nadu government, will be critical to preparing a detailed project report for submission to the Union government for approval. Once operational, the dry port would allow exporters to undertake containerisation, customs clearance, documentation and cargo handling closer to production centres, reducing dependence on distant seaports such as Chennai, Thoothukudi and Kochi.
Exporters in Tiruchy and surrounding districts currently ship a wide range of products, including engineering goods, rice, spices, agro-chemicals and perishables, but face higher logistics costs and longer turnaround times due to the absence of a local ICD.
Trade bodies, including the Export and Import Federation of Tiruchy, noted that exports from the region have grown at an average of around 5% annually over the past five years, highlighting the need for improved logistics infrastructure. Industry stakeholders estimate that a dry port could cut logistics costs by 15–20% through single-window customs clearance and local containerisation, while also enabling smaller exporters to access global markets more efficiently.
Industry representatives have proposed identifying around 21 acres near the Manapparai–Dindigul highway to develop a plug-and-play logistics ecosystem, which is expected to benefit the Sipcot industrial park and other manufacturing clusters in the region.
The project has received political backing, with Tiruchy MP Durai Vaiko calling for faster implementation. Discussions are reportedly underway between the MP’s office and district officials to finalise land identification at the earliest.
If approved, the Tiruchy dry port is expected to emerge as a key regional logistics hub, improving hinterland connectivity and complementing Tamil Nadu’s broader port-led development initiatives.