Chennai International Terminal (CIT)
About CIT
CIT is a container terminal at Chennai Port, India, operated by PSA International. It has an installed capacity of 1 million TEUs and handled 1.25 million TEUs in FY25.
Chennai International Terminal (CIT), also known as PSA Chennai, is a major container terminal within the Chennai Port. The terminal commenced operations in September 2009. It is a 100% subsidiary of PSA International and operates under a 30-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession agreement with the Chennai Port Authority. The terminal serves as a hub for the Far East, Southeast Asia, and coastal trade. As of January 2026, primary services calling at CIT include: CI3 Service, a weekly service operated by a consortium including WAN HAI, ONE, and COSCO, connecting major hubs such as Shanghai, Ningbo, and Hong Kong. CMA CGM launched the IEX2 service for shipments to Southeast Asian transhipment hubs. TS Lines and BTL utilise FME & TTX Services for intra-Asia and regional feeder connectivity. Domestic carriers such as TCI (Transport Corporation of India) operate ad hoc and scheduled services from Chennai to ports at Mundra and Cochin. In 2025, CIT recorded its highest-ever weekly throughput of 34,425 TEUs, 45% above its designed weekly capacity. The same year, the terminal’s parentage and performance earned an upgrade to [ICRA]A1+, driven by 9% year-on-year growth, achieving 0.92 million TEUs.
Facilities & infrastructure
- Quay length 832 metres
- Depth 15.5 metres
- 2 on-dock rail lines, each 725 metres
- The facility is ISPS-certified and features advanced cargo-handling technologies, including RFID-enabled systems
- It features real-time IT systems that track containers, vessel operations, yard movements, and truck arrivals
- Future trends at Chennai’s container terminals include the adoption of Port Community Systems (PCS) for paperless documentation. The terminal uses the Zodiac software, which utilises AI for real-time yard planning and “Smart Stacking”
Why shippers choose CIT
- Off-dock yards enable the loading and unloading of “shuttle trains” in 4–6 hours
- A dedicated rail shuttle connects CIT to the Tondiarpet (TNPM) ICD/CFS, serving as an “extended gate” to bypass city road congestion
- Internal port roads have been widened to 8 lanes, significantly improving turnaround time
- Most CFSs are located in the Madhavaram, Manali, and Tiruvottiyur clusters within a 15–20 km radius of the port
Shipping lines & services
Hinterland connectivity
Rail & road
CIT is well connected to national highways: NH16 (to Kolkata), NH45 (to Tiruchirappalli), and NH4 (to Bangalore). Road networks support container movement within a 400 km radius, covering major industrial centres across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. NH 48 (Chennai–Mumbai–Delhi): Connects the terminal to the industrial belts of Sriperumbudur, Kanchipuram, Bangalore, and Pune. The train operator at CIT is CONCOR (Container Corporation of India). In early 2026, it introduced the Chennai–Hyderabad shuttle. In September 2025, CONCOR started a weekly service to ICD Sanathnagar (Hyderabad).
CFS & warehousing
CIT is connected to 34-36 CFSs, including Allcargo, Balmer Lawrie, Gateway Distriparks, Continental Warehousing, and Sattva. The Ennore-Manali Road Improvement Project (EMRIP) provides 4-lane connectivity to the various CFS clusters in Chennai.
Throughput FY22–FY25
Units: Lakh TEUs (as reported).
Frequently asked questions
Who operates CIT?
CIT is operated by PSA International.
What is the capacity of CIT?
Installed capacity is 1 million TEUs. Throughput in FY25 was 1.25 million TEUs, or 73.6% utilisation.
What is the port code for CIT?
The UN/LOCODE-style port code is INMAA.
Where is CIT located?
CIT operates at Chennai Port, Tamil Nadu. Its office is at Regus Citi Centre Level 6, Chennai Citi Centre, 10/11 Chennai, 600004.
How is CIT connected by rail and road?
CIT is connected to NH16, NH45, NH4 and NH48. CONCOR is the train operator, running services including the Chennai–Hyderabad shuttle and a weekly service to ICD Sanathnagar.
Which CFS facilities serve CIT?
CIT is connected to 34-36 CFSs, including Allcargo, Balmer Lawrie, Gateway Distriparks, Continental Warehousing, and Sattva.
In the news
Classification
Source: South Asia Container Market Report 2026, p. 44. Last updated Jan 2026.
