VO Chidambaranar port is taking steps to operate cruise liners between Kanniyakumari and Rameswaram via Thoothukudi, its chairman TK Ramachandran has said.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday night, Mr Ramachandran said the move was part of tourism promotion activities being launched under the Union government’s planned ‘Sagarmala programme’.

In addition, pleasure boat rides, water games, water adventure games, sea aquarium, etc., will be established at Thoothukudi Old Port, for which a project report has been prepared, it said. He specifies.

Stating that the economic crisis in Sri Lanka had no negative impact on the VOC port, Mr Ramachandran said steps were being taken to bring mother ships directly to the seaport of Thoothukudi, which had so far handled four large vessels under this initiative. Plans were also underway to make the harbor a “desired harbour” for larger ships by increasing its draft.

He said 11 of the 18 development projects undertaken by the port under the “Sagarmala programme” had been completed. The widening of the port entry point from 153 meters to 230 meters would be completed by December and the conversion of 9 ^and the loading dock at the container dock would be completed by December 2024.

After the completion of the deepening of North General Cargo Quay 3 in May 2024 at an expenditure of ₹356.39 crore, the upgrading of Cargo Quays 1 to 4 to container berths would be completed by December 2025 for a cost ₹2,455.40 crore. “When we complete the development of the outer harbor at a total cost of ₹7,500 crore by 2030, the handling capacity of the port would be increased by four million tonnes,” Mr Ramachandran said.