The V O Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Authority has once again scrapped its ambitious plan to build a mega container terminal in the outer harbour of the southern port, after failing to attract any private bidders. This marks the second such cancellation in 18 months for the ₹7,055.95-crore project, which was intended to add 4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of capacity to the port’s infrastructure. The tender, which was initially floated in February 2024 and re-issued in December the same year, faced multiple deadline extensions but failed to generate sufficient interest from the private sector. During a roadshow in Mumbai in March 2024 and subsequent pre-bid meetings, potential investors raised serious concerns over the financial and technical feasibility of the project. One of the main issues flagged