The Secretary of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India conducted a detailed review of the Chennai Port model and held a strategic dialogue with senior officials of the Chennai Port Authority to discuss the port’s key performance indicators (KPIs) and the accelerated implementation of priority projects aimed at strengthening operational excellence and competitiveness.
During the inspection and ensuing discussions, the Secretary — representing the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) — focused on evaluating recent performance metrics, ongoing initiatives, digital transformation efforts, and future developmental road-maps designed to elevate Chennai Port’s contribution to national maritime trade.
According to port officials, Chennai Port recorded a 7.5 per cent increase in cargo handling in 2025, propelled largely by growth in container traffic and improvements in efficiency across operations. The port also achieved multiple all-time single-day cargo handling records and significantly reduced vessel turnaround times — a major performance indicator — without the need for large-scale physical expansion.
In his inputs, the Secretary emphasised the importance of digitalisation, process optimisation, and expansion of capacity to sustain growth and enhance the port’s competitiveness both nationally and in the broader Indian Ocean region. Officials highlighted the deployment of an integrated Enterprise Business System across operations, which has simplified workflows, reduced procedural friction, and improved service delivery.
The dialogue also covered the port’s strategic infrastructure projects, including the Outer Harbour project, which aims to boost capacity and enable the handling of ultra-large vessels, along with improvements in hinterland connectivity and multimodal logistics. New facility plans — such as a multilevel car park, enhancements to port-run schools and welfare institutions, and community engagement schemes — were discussed as part of a holistic vision for port-led regional development.
The Secretary’s engagement with port leadership underscored the Centre’s commitment to advancing maritime infrastructure, ease of doing business, and sustainable port operations. These priorities align with the broader objectives of the national Sagarmala Programme and other policy frameworks aimed at modernising India’s port ecosystem and boosting trade facilitation.
Officials said that continued focus on performance indicators, adoption of international best practices, and strong public–private collaboration would be key to positioning Chennai Port as a globally competitive gateway in South Asia’s maritime landscape.
