Project Monitor reported that Ennore Port Ltd has planned to construct a general cargo berth for which tendering for construction works has begun. Senior EPL officials said that by the current plan of action, contractors were likely to be finalized by February end. The facility is expected to turn commercial during the Q3 July to September of 2010. Officials said that the new berth would facilitate export of Nissan cars.
Officials added that the project would cost around INR 110 crore, including the cost of dredging and construction, but excluding equipment that would be sourced by Nissan. The berth will be owned and operated by the port and will not be on BOT basis. With a quay length of 250 meter and a width of 27.5 meter, the berth will come on the northern side of the port basin.
In October 2008, Ennore Port Ltd entered into an agreement with the Japanese automaker by which the port will give priority to Nissan in using the new marine facilities. According to the MoU, Nissan is expected to export 101,000 cars per year in 2011, which would subsequently grow to 180,000 cars. Nissan is likely to use the Ennore marine facility for exporting the Micra, a new generation A-platform car.