With the establishment of an inland container depot in Tiruchi remaining a long-felt demand of the trade and industry of the central region, Tiruchi Member of Parliament Durai Vaiko has suggested the floating of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to establish the facility.The inland container depot/dry port can be established at the SIPCOT land in Tiruchi. The SPV could be formed in a partnership between SIPCOT and either the Chennai Port Authority or the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority for establishing the dry port with the financial support of the Union government, Mr. Durai Vaiko said in a representation to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.Mr. Durai Vaiko, who called on the Minister in New Delhi on Wednesday to press the demand, said the Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, in response to his earlier representations, had replied that no proposal had been received from any public or private entity for establishing an inland container depot in Tiruchi and any proposal received in future would be examined.Considering its strategic importance, the project could be implemented through “a public-sector led SPV model,” Mr. Durai Vaiko said.The establishment of the dry port in Tiruchi, Mr. Durai Vaiko said, would substantially reduce logistics cost, improve competitiveness, decongest seaports, and provide efficient customs and container handling infrastructure for industries situated in the central districts in Tamil Nadu. It would strengthen multi-modal logistics connectivity in alignment with the Centre’s vision for integrated infrastructure development trade facilitation.Tiruchi deserved to be considered for the project given its strategic location in central Tamil Nadu and its growing importance as an industrial and manufacturing logistics hub. The region had several export-oriented industries, including engineering fabrication, textiles, agro-processing and MSMEs spread across Tiruchi, Karur, Perambalur, Thanjavur, and neighbouring districts, he added.In another representation to Ms. Sitharaman, Mr. Durai Vaiko urged her to approve the proposal for extending the runway of the Tiruchi International Airport. A detailed project report for extending the runway from 7,949 feet to 12,500 feet at an estimated cost of ₹350 crore had been submitted to the Airports Authority of India headquarters, he said.The extended runway will enable operation of wide-bodied passenger and freight aircraft to Tiruchi and support exports. The project was vital for regional economic development, Mr. Durai Vaiko said. Published - May 28, 2026 05:50 pm IST