80% infra work in Kasimedu fishing harbour complete

Chennai: Nearly 80% of infrastructure development works at Kasimedu fishing harbour, Chennai's busiest and most vital fishing hub, have been completed. The remaining works are slated for completion by the end of the year, promising a major facelift for the historic facility.Chennai Port Trust chairman Sunil Paliwal said that the Central government had sanctioned 97 crore for the extensive revamp. Among the significant developments, about 1,000 metres of a 1,300-metre-long peripheral wall has already been constructed.A new peripheral road is also being laid, aimed at easing vehicular movement within the harbor. This will help decongest the bustling marketplace. A sprawling 86,000 sqft boat-repairing yard has been completed, along with a designated parking area for two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Previously, the lack of structured parking added to the chaos within the harbour premises. These new facilities are expected to bring much-needed order and efficiency to daily operations.In terms of sanitation, significant improvements are on the horizon. Two new treatment plants, a sewage and an effluent treatment plant, each with a capacity of 75,000 liters, are nearing completion.These plants will handle both sewage and effluent waste, a crucial upgrade given that untreated waste earlier flowed into the city's drainage system. The new plants are set to elevate sanitary standards and ensure a cleaner environment for the entire harbour community.Water storage infrastructure has also received a major boost with the addition of an overhead tank and sump capable of holding one lakh liters of water. Further, new toilet blocks, an administrative building, and shops selling boat spare parts are in the final stages of construction. These additions are not only expected to enhance the working conditions for fishermen but also improve overall operational efficiency.