Demand for establishing dry port in Tiruchi gathers momentum

Despite repeated appeals from trade and industrial forums, the long-standing demand for a dry port in Tiruch remains unfulfilled. Tiruchirappalli, a key export hub in Tamil Nadu, continues to face logistical hurdles due to the absence of an Inland Container Depot (ICD), or dry port, even as export volumes steadily increase.
Tiruch is a major contributor to the state's export economy, shipping out engineering equipment, vegetables, fruits, and processed food items. According to the National Horticulture Database 2023–24, the region produced 112.62 million metric tonnes of fruits and 204.96 million metric tonnes of vegetables, making it a vital agricultural powerhouse.
While perishable goods are typically flown to international markets like Singapore, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Qatar, and the UAE, value-added products including biscuits, millets, and auto components, are exported via distant sea ports in Chennai, Tuticorin, and Cochin. Each month, approximately 40 to 50 containers (25 tonnes each) are transported by road from Tiruch to these ports, incurring high logistics costs and long transit times.
Industrialists argue that establishing a dry port in Tiruch would drastically cut shipping time and costs, streamlining customs clearance and export documentation locally. “It takes nearly a week to complete export formalities at sea ports. A dry port in Tiruch would help us save both time and money,” said G. Sathish Kumar, Secretary, Export-Import Federation, Tiruch.
The demand for a dry port in Tiruch is part of the broader port development demand in India, where exporters and industry bodies across various states are urging the government to invest in inland logistics infrastructure to facilitate smoother trade flows.
Exporters point to the success of the dry port near Tiruppur, which has significantly benefitted exporters from the Tiruppur-Coimbatore belt. A similar facility in Tiruch, ideally located near SIPCOT Industrial Park in Manapparai with direct highway access, would enhance the region’s logistics ecosystem and support industrial growth.
Kanagasabapathy, former Chairman of Tiruch Trade Centre, reiterated that several trade bodies have long advocated for the project, emphasizing that at least 100 acres would be required to build an efficient dry port.
Stakeholders are urging both the State and Central governments to prioritize this strategic infrastructure, which they believe is essential for meeting the increasing port development demand in India and unleashing Tiruch’s full export potential.