The Indian Institute of Technology Madra (IIT-M) will develop an indigenous Vessel Traffic Management Software and hardware that is used in ports. Indian ports are presently using the software of foreign companies, which leads to higher costs.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIT-M and the VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port Trust in Tuticorin was signed for this software development project. This project is led by IIT-M’s National Technology Centre for Ports Waterways and Coast (NTCPWC). This project is in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India. The current VTS at VOC Port has been in service for nearly seven years.
According to TK Ramachandran, IAS, Chairman, VOC Port Trust, Tuticorin, theirs is the first major Indian port to sign an MoU with NTCPWC for indigenous software development. He said this home-grown alternative would be a game-changer in Indian Maritime Industry.
He said that it becomes very expensive when buying from foreign companies, and the internal workings are not known to the user. Whereas, in the indigenous development, the software can be developed here and upgrade of hardware can be done based on in-house expert recommendation.
