A minimum of 20 acres would be required for the proposed dry port, which is currently being evaluated, but if land is available, up to 100 acres could be acquired, keeping in mind future expansions.

A minimum of 20 acres would be required for the proposed dry port, which is currently being evaluated, but if land is available, up to 100 acres could be acquired, keeping in mind future expansions.

A minimum of 20 acres would be required for the proposed dry port, which is currently being evaluated, but if land is available, up to 100 acres could be acquired, keeping in mind future expansions.

Both the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government have given in-principle approval for the construction of a dry port in Tiruchirappalli.

The TVK-led government's approval for the dry port was reflected in an August 24 letter written by Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, as per Tiruchirappalli MP Durai Vaiko.

“In the letter, the CM said the TN government had already taken a policy decision to establish a multi-modal logitics hub in Trichy, and that a detailed study for developing the facility would shortly be commenced by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO),” he said.

“Once the state government finalises a proposal, the finance ministry has promised to execute it at the earliest, he added, noting the construction of the dry port will benefit not only Trichy, but also the whole of central Tamil Nadu.

Vaiko also pointed out that textile industries in the Karur district, cement industries in the Ariyalur district, engineering MSMEs, and food-based value-added industries in Trichy and the adjoining Cauvery delta districts were also considering exporting their products via the upcoming facility.

Indeed, the Trichy's central location within the state puts it within perfect reach of not just the Chennai, Kamarajar, Kattupalli, and V.O. Chidambaranar ports in Tamil Nadu, but also those in Kerala, such as the Cochin Port.

The Vizhinjam Port starting export-import (EXIM) operations on August 18 is also a crucial development, as it has become one of the key ports that will be connected to the new facility.

Vaiko explained that the dry port had been delayed over the years as the region had been classified under the ‘Red Zone’, since it is close to multiple ports, as per an Indian Express report.

"I met the finance minister five times in the last 18 months and three other Union ministers to convince and materialise the need for the facility to promote exports and generate employment opportunities in the central region."

The Trichy hub promises container-handling and warehousing facilities, in addition to distribution hubs and localised customs clearance.

A minimum of 20 acres would be required for the proposed project, which is currently being evaluated by TIDCO, but if land is available, up to 100 acres could be acquired, keeping in mind future expansions.

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