Chennai, Dec 25 (NationPress) The development of river training walls and enhanced infrastructure at the fish landing center in Chandirapadi, situated in Tamil Nadu's Tharangambadi, has gained substantial traction and is projected to reach completion by March 2026. This timeline is significantly ahead of the original deadline set for December of the following year, as confirmed by officials.

The ₹32-crore initiative is being executed under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) scheme, through the Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department. This project is designed to fortify coastal protection measures and enhance fish landing facilities for the local fishing community that relies on the Nandalar estuary for their daily fishing activities.

Chandirapadi is a long-standing fishing village with approximately 2,895 fisherfolk engaged in marine fishing, utilizing 13 mechanized boats and 212 fiber boats.

The estuary and landing facilities play a crucial role in sustaining the community's livelihoods. As noted by T. Gowthaman, Assistant Engineer of the Fisheries Department, the ongoing construction includes the development of stone pitching river training walls extending 260 meters on the southern flank and 220 meters on the northern flank, a 60-meter long boat berthing jetty, and dredging of around 96,250 cubic meters to enhance navigability and safety.

Initiated in February 2025, the project has nearly achieved 75 percent physical progress. “Work on the jetty is in progress, and dredging is anticipated to begin within a month. Currently, roughly 235 meters of the southern wall and 205 meters of the northern wall are completed,” the official reported.

Previously, a fish landing center was constructed at Chandirapadi for ₹10 crore and inaugurated on August 20, 2024. The facility features a 75-meter boat berthing jetty, a fish auction hall, a net mending shed, 150 meters of road access, and dredging of 50,000 cubic meters at the river mouth.

In response to requests from the fisherfolk, further improvements to the infrastructure are underway. Fishermen in Chandirapadi have expressed their satisfaction with the progress, indicating that the new facility will markedly decrease their reliance on distant harbors.

“Currently, we dock our boats at Poompuhar and Tirumullaivasal, which requires significant travel. Once this facility is fully operational, many of our challenges will be resolved,” shared Martin, a fisherman from the village.

In the meantime, officials reported that the long-awaited demand from the villagers of Chandirapadi for the construction of short groynes along the coastline to mitigate sea erosion is also advancing. The proposal is pending a bathymetry survey by a team from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, scheduled to take place in January 2026.