The Hindu Business Line : Support systems vital for success of ICTT, other projects

WITH the Union Government's clearance for setting up the International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT) in the nearby Vallarpadam Island, indications are that the other proposed development projects might also become a reality, but their implementation and successful operations would depend on effective support systems, according to experts here.

The other projects in the pipeline are: LNG terminal proposed to be set by the Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL); development of the Cochin Port; international bunkering terminal of Kochi Refineries Ltd (KRL);

international ship repair facilities; development of the Inland Water Way No. 3; mineral sand utilisation project; KRL Power project and road and railway development.

Currently, around 80 per cent of the container trade from India is trans-shipped via load centres of Colombo, Singapore or Gulf region. Like Colombo, Cochin also has the location advantage with regard to round the world container line routes.

Besides, Cochin Port is connected to the various cargo sources in the country's main land by road, sea, rail, air and inland waterways. Commercial and industrial activities in and around the port would considerably go up when the terminal becomes operational, the experts pointed out.

Another important project in the pipeline for long is the LNG terminal. Once it becomes a reality, with the natural gas becoming available, the fate of many of the manufacturing industries in the State, which are at a very disadvantageous position on account of unaffordable feedstock and fuel cost, such as FACT, NTPC, BSES, IAC, Cements Group, Excel Glasses and power producers — will become bright, they claimed. New ventures in petrochemicals, power generation, mineral extraction and chemical processing, may also prosper.

The proposed International Bunkering Terminal would provide the bunkering requirements of international and national merchant ships and Very Large Crude Carriers that will berth in the single buoy moving (SBM) facility of the KRL. Services such as bunkering, fuel and lube oil supply, de-slopping, garbage removal, fresh water supply, crew change, storage facilities are to be made available, they said.

According to them, there is immense potential for an International Ship Repair Facility here. Close location to the international sea route, presence of a big customs house for clearances, immigration, anatural harbour and a moderate climate, availability of skilled labour and associated facilities, laboratories and testing houses, make the potential very high.

Development of the Inland Water Transport (IWT) is another area. It is operationally cheaper with high fuel efficiency, besides being environment friendly. The development of National Waterway No. 3, which is the West Coast Canal from Kottapuram to Kollam along with Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals (205 km), is very important to the State.

Currently, cargo such as fertilizer raw materials, refinery products agricultural produce and other raw materials are being moved through this waterway. Costal shipping is also active. There is a tremendous potential for tourism development also along the beautiful coastline of Kerala, they pointed out.

The important national highways in the State are NH 47 Kanyakumari- Salem, NH 17 Edappali- Mumbai and NH 49 Kochi-Madurai. Of these, NH 17 and NH 49 are not fully worked out as per national highway standards and are in the different stages of formation. The future road development programme of the State envisages speedy completion of all works underway so that they will soon emerge as fully developed motorways.

Part of the existing railway lines from Trivandrum to Palakkad, has double lines and the rest is under construction. The electrification work of the section is also in progress.

However, for the effective implementation and successful operations of the above facilities and services, "we need a host of support systems such as gas delivery pipelines, good quality water, reliable power, transportation infrastructure, communication facilities with reliable connectivity,

urban cleaning and waste management, safety and emergency preparedness, disaster mitigation plans, training facilities and institutions, financial support services, laboratories, testing houses and health surveillance facilities," they suggested.

Meanwhile, the public and private enterprises will have to expand and update their deliveries to cope with the increasing demands, they added.

More Stories on : Shipping | Infrastructure | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Copter crash probe

Jet Airways to use Mercator's revenue accounting system

Jet plans Boeing to Rajasthan to meet passenger demand

Support systems vital for success of ICTT, other projects

Rly Board to consider plan for rail link to Sagar Island

Plea for Nilambur-Nanjangud line

AP Transport Commissioner's fiat on change of address