Tuticorin was a
small town with a rich maritime history. It was
the center for maritime trade and pearl fishery.
It was ruled by various dynasties like the
Pandyas and Cholas, then fell into the hands of
the Portuguese and Dutuch before finally coming
under the administration of the British. The
natural harbour and rich hinterland of Tuticorin
Port prompted the East Indian Company to plan the
development of the harbour. The lighthouse built
in 1842 marked the beginning of the history of
Tuticorin Harbour Development Wooden piers and
iron screwpile pier were constructed and
trolleyrails laid to connect the Port to the
railway.
Tuticorin became
the citadel of the freedom in the early 20th
centuary. In 1906, the great freedom fighter of
India, V.O. Chidambaram Pillai launched the
first Swadeshi ship in British India. The minor
Port of Tuticorin had a flourishing trade
handling a variety of cargoes meant for the
neighbouring countries of Sri Lanka, Maldives
etc. and the coastal regions of India.
The Govt.
of India sanctioned the construction of a harbour at Tuticorin to cope
with the changing requirements of the maritime trade. On the 11 July
1974, the newly constructed Tuticorin Port was declared as the 10th
Indian Major Port. On the 1st April 19779, the erstwhile Anchorage
Port/Minor Port and the newly constructed harbour were merged into an
Integrated Port Trust under the Major Port Trust Act 1963. From then
on, Tuticorin Port has had two operational wings:
Zone
'A' comprising of the new
Major Port and
Zone 'B'representing the old Anchorage or Minor Port.
Tuticorin
Port is situated on the East Cost of India about 540 kms South West of
Madras. Located in the Gulf of Mannar with Sri Lanka on the South East
and the large land mass of India on the West. Tuticorin Port is well
sheltered from the fury of storms and cyclonic winds. It is
strategically located very close to the major international sea
routes.
Tuticorin Port
is well connected to various trading centres within Tamil Nadu and
the neighbouring states of Kerala, Karnataka and AP by
National/State Highways. Regular bus services are available to
several major cities throughout South India.
Railway
The Port is
linked to the broad-guage railway system of th ecountry. There is a
daily express train service between Tuticorin and Madras and other
connecting trains to Madurai.
Air
Tuticorin is
connected by air to other major cities via. Madurai and TRivendrum.
journey by road from Tuticorin to Madurai takes 3 hours and
Trivandrum 4 hours. Tuticorin is expected to be air linked after the
newly commissioned Air Port is served by regular flight service.
The major
Port of Tuticorin is created with a breakwater system jutting into th
esea for about 4 km, one of th elongest in th eworld. The Port was
designed and executed entirely through indigenous efforts.
General Section
