Hinterland Connectivity

2.6.1 Rail Connectivity

2.6.1.1 Local Area Connections

Ennore Port is connected to the southern railway network at Attipattu and Attipattu- Pudhunagar railway stations at about 6m from the port on the Chennai-Gudur section of the Southern railway. A broad gauge railway siding which was developed during the construction phase and branching off from the NCTPS (TNEB) siding is now available and presently being used for the movement of about 2 million tonnes of Iron ore per annum for export through the temporary barge loading jetty.

Ennore Port does not have its own siding at present to connect to southern railway network. It depends on NCTPS siding. The rail connectivity is shown in Figure 2.4. This connectivity is not adequate to move the rail-borne cargo of the proposed new terminals.

2.6.1.2 Hinterland network

100% export of Iron ore about 65% coal despatches to non-TNEB users and about 25% inward / outward movement of containers between Ennore Port and the hinterland destinations depend on rail connectivity. Hinterland rail routes are shown in Figure 2.5. The critical rail route to move about 10 million tonnes of Iron ore in short term and about 15 millions tonnes in long term is between Bellary- Hospet iron ore mines and Ennore Port passing through the severely congested Avadi- Vysarpadi sub- urban section (17.5 km sketch). As the coal despatches from Ennore Port are through the released wagons of iron ore, coal movement will not pose any problem. 2.6.1.3 Rail connectivity

Rail connectivity to establish un-interrupted evacuation of rail-borne cargo is vital for Ennore Port operations: Ennore Port and southern railway through various studies and interactions have identified the projects to be undertaken to remove the bottleneck.

• Strengthening of the critical Avadi-Vysarpadi section on the Arakkonam- Chennai line. This can only be a short-term solution as far as iron ore is concerned.

• Take up the new 88km chord line from Puttur (on the Renigunta-Arakkonam section) to Attipattu with a flyover crossing the main line near Minjur station via Periapalayam to bye-pass the critical section (Estimated cost is Rs.635.65 crores). This will be the long-term solution.

• Construction of an independent siding to connect Attipattu /Attipattu Pudunagar to Coal, Iron Ore and Container Stackyards. (Estimate cost is Rs.63 crores) EPL has initiated action on this.

2.6.1.4 Strategy

• Implementation of Puttur-Attipattu new chord line is vital for Ennore Port development and operations more specifically for Iron ore traffic. The interest of Ennore Port and Ennore Port users is a single line from Puttur- Attipattu with a fly over at Minjur and not in the Tiruvallur-Periapalayam link. Railways may be asked to segregate the costing accordingly. EPL should commit its willingness to support the construction financially through equity participation along with other beneficiaries. MOSRTH & EPL to take up with the Ministry of Railways to give highest priority for this construction.

2.6.2 Road Connectivity

2.6.2.1 Existing and Proposed Access Roads

Ennore Port is envisaged to handle large volumes of bulk commodities and container traffic. A reasonable 35% share of dry bulk commodity, 75% of liquids and chemicals and 75% of the container traffic are expected to move by road system. A good network of roads in appropriate form, adequate in capacity and offering high level of service is important to enable efficient movement of goods and promote profitability of the port. A network of access roads exist with ability to connect the port to the National Highways NH5, NH4 & NH45 and deep hinterland with certain improvements (widening & strengthening) and construction of bye-pass roads. Network of the existing and proposed access roads to Ennore Port is shown in the map at Figure 2.6.

2.6.2.2 Proposed Network of Port roads

The proposed network of port roads has the following components to connect the port operational areas with the access roads (NCTPS road and TPP road).

• Roads within the port operational areas (within the port boundary wall) • Roads outside the port boundary wall.

Map at Figure 2.7 shows the Road Network within the port area and vicinity. The details of roads constituting the road network are shown in Table 4.7.

Among the new roads proposed in the Business Plan, Northern Port Access Road will be an important link between Port area and TPP road near Vallur and then on to NH5 at Thachur thus providing connectivity to Chennai metropolitan area and the deep hinterland. This road would also serve the proposed SEZ and other developments north of Ennore Port. This road will have 4-lanes up to TPP road. 2.6.2.3 Strategy

• Persuade MOSRTH, GOI/NHAI to develop the Northern Port Access Road under their port connectivity plan. NHAI may develop this road under BOT route or forming a SPV with equity contributions from the beneficiaries like EPL, TIDCO (SEZ), CPCL, Container terminal operators etc.

• Play an advocacy role to persuade NHAI, GOTN, CMDA and others to expedite the widening of TPP road, construction of Chennai Bye-pass roads and improvement of the network of other access roads.

Figure 2.7: Road Network Within the Port Area and Vicinity