South India's newest private container handling facility, the Tuticorin International Container Terminal Pvt Ltd, a unit of J M Baxi Ports & Logistics Ltd, is set to begin operations on September 16. The inaugural event will feature the berthing of the Hong Kong-flagged 'Rio Grande Express,' operated by Hapag-Lloyd. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will flag off the ship, accompanied by key figures including Shantanu Thakur, T K Ramachandran, and E V Velu. The terminal, showcasing a commitment to sustainability, will operate with all-electric cranes and reach stackers. It boasts three Rail Mounted Quay Cranes (RMQCs), nine electric Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (eRTGs), and an electric Reach Stacker. The 'Rio Grande Express,' built in 2006, can carry 4,248 TEUs and is part of the South East India – Europe Express (IEX) service, connecting South Indian ports with major global destinations. This new terminal, built by converting an existing dry bulk berth at V O Chidambaranar Port with an investment of Rs 434.17 crore, will enhance the port's container handling capacity by 600,000 TEUs annually, bringing the total to 1.8 million TEUs. The terminal's successful bid in the public auction was the highest at Rs 1,900.44 per TEU. Currently, V O Chidambaranar Port’s two existing container terminals, operated by PSA SICAL and Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal, together handle around 336,000 TEUs, an increase from the previous year's 315,000 TEUs.