₹1,500 Crore Projects Inaugurated at VOC Port by Minister Sarbananda Sonowal

Tamil Nadu, February 23, 2026: The Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, today presided over a landmark inauguration and foundation-laying ceremony at V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) in Tuticorin, unveiling transformative projects worth over ₹1,500 crore. These initiatives reinforce the Government of India’s commitment to port-led development under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

A central highlight of the event was the inauguration of the VOC Maritime Heritage Museum, a modern, immersive institution celebrating India’s rich maritime legacy and honoring freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaranar. The museum is expected to serve as a cultural and educational landmark for southern Tamil Nadu, deepening public awareness of maritime history, boosting tourism, and strengthening community engagement.

In addition, the Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for a series of projects including:

Upgraded rail and road connectivity to improve cargo evacuation.
Enhanced power infrastructure and integration of renewable energy (solar, wind, battery storage, green hydrogen).
Advanced safety systems and cutting-edge digital platforms.

These initiatives are set to shorten vessel turnaround times, strengthen multimodal logistics, and enhance operational safety, further positioning VOC Port as a capacity-driven, technologically advanced maritime hub.

The event also celebrated recent milestones, such as the commissioning of three new berths, including North Cargo Berth-III, dedicated by the Prime Minister in July 2025. Progress continues on the Outer Harbour Project, which will enable the port to handle larger vessels and higher trade volumes.

VOC Port has emerged as a national leader in sustainable maritime operations, being the first Indian port to produce and utilize green hydrogen on-site. Pilot operations began in late 2025, with commercial-scale deployment targeted for 2029. Other green initiatives include green methanol facilities, e-ammonia partnerships, and CCUS integration, cementing VOC Port as a future-ready green fuel bunkering hub, aligned with India’s net-zero targets and Maritime Vision 2047.

On the technology front, VOC Port has launched India’s first comprehensive Digital Twin platform, offering real-time monitoring, AI-assisted analytics, predictive maintenance, and data-driven optimization. An advanced Anti-Drone System strengthens security of critical infrastructure. The port also hosted sessions on AI-powered port operations at the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026.

Operational achievements underpin these developments. From April 2025 to January 2026, VOC Port handled 35.97 million tonnes of cargo, up 6%, including a record 4 million tonnes in January 2026. Container volumes rose 9.4% to over 7.16 lakh TEUs, reflecting enhanced processes, equipment, and storage capacity.

Minister Sonowal highlighted:
"These landmark projects reflect the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and our resolve to build a self-reliant, green, and technologically advanced maritime sector. VOC Port’s initiatives — from shipbuilding to the Outer Harbour Project and wide-ranging green measures — will redefine the region’s economic landscape, strengthen its transshipment capabilities, and establish India as a global maritime powerhouse."

VOC Port Chairperson, Susanta Kumar Purohit, added:
"By prioritizing world-class infrastructure, digitization, ambitious green initiatives, and port-led industrialisation including shipbuilding, VOC Port is reinforcing its role in regional prosperity and national development."

These projects are expected to lower logistics costs, attract investment, create employment, stimulate renewable energy, logistics, and tourism sectors, and enhance the socio-economic fabric of Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, and Madurai districts.