Following two failed attempts, the Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) has decided to drop its plan of developing a mega container terminal and instead is going for a multipurpose terminal to handle different types of commodities, reported The Hindu.

At a Board of Trustees meeting, Ernst and Young was appointed to provide Transaction Advisory Services for the development of a mega terminal. Henceforth, it would be referred as "Outer harbour development project".

According to informed sources, the consultant has been given 12 weeks time to submit a Detailed Project Report on how the project could be made attractive in terms of investment and revenue sharing, the engineering aspects and types of commodities that could be handled.

"It would be a mega project, but it is not in the priority list for the current year as we are also on the anvil of converting the Jawahar Dock (the previous coal berth) as a mid-size container berth. Besides, we are yet to take a decision on how to utilise the iron ore berth, which is lying idle," the sources said.

Despite the small hiccups, Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan will inaugurate the Ennore Manali Road Improvement Project in December. It is expected that 90 percent of the work would be over, except for shifting of tenements of NTO Kuppam and Cherian Nagar, which is located the Chennai Port zero gate.