Karaikal, Jan 27 (Inditop.com) The Karaikal port built by Karaikal Port Private Ltd, a wholly owned subsididary of Marg Ltd, crossed a milestone Wednesday when the first train from the port siding was flagged off by Puducherry Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam and Minister for Home and Port E. Valsaraj.

Present on the occasion was the Puducherry Governor Iqbal Singh and central Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy and officials of Southern Railways.

Karaikal port, that went on stream last year is a bulk cargo terminal that has handled over half a million tonnes already.

The first cargo transported by rail was pet coke for Madras Cements’ factory at Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu.

Railway connectivity will result in significant increase in the capacity of the port, which will allow more efficient utilisation of the storage area, thereby enhancing the cargo handling capacity, said G.R.K.Reddy, chairman and managing director, Marg Ltd.