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V. Sajeev Kumar

Kochi , Aug. 1

DR JACOB Thomas, Chairman of the Cochin Port Trust, who has contributed immensely to make the Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal project here a reality, has relinquished charge on Sunday on completion of his five-year tenure.

Speaking to Business Line, Dr Thomas said Kochi Port is on the threshold of a major developmental path and the next five years are quite crucial in this regard. Prior to the commissioning of ICTT at Vallarpadam in April 2006, he said several infrastructure facilities had to be cleared by the time.

ICTT is the only one in the basket of projects under the Integrated Development Plan of the port and the other projects such as Single Buoy Mooring, LNG Terminal, Port-based SEZ etc could also be completed in the next five years.

"All preliminary works related to these projects are completed and now what remains is the timely execution," he said.

According to Dr Thomas, tenders for building a road link between the ICTT and National Highway No. 47 at Kalamassery would be invited in October. Land acquisition for the project is on the fast track and would be completed soon.

Report for the rail link for the ICTT project is expected by August 20 from the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd, he said. The feasibility study for the international ship repair facilities has been completed and once the sales tax exemption is obtained, the international bunkering terminal could take off.

He said that Kochi Refineries Ltd had evinced interest in the proposed bunkering terminal. KRL having been associated with the Port for such a long time had a big advantage in the process of getting a share in the proposed bunkering facility. The notification for the port-based special economic zone, he said, is expected by the middle of August.

Referring to cruise handling facility in the port, he said Kochi needs a dedicated cruise terminal considering the tremendous potential of tourism related activities in Kerala.

He pointed out that there was a suggestion at a recent meeting of port officials in New Delhi for the formation of a separate entity to handle cruise business. The entity could comprise tourism departments of various port States as well as the Union Government.

There is also a plan to reclaim about 300 acres of land in the eastern side of Vallarpadam facing Bolghatty. This would improve the flow in the Ernakulam channel, thus reducing the siltation and thereby lowering the dredging cost. The cruise terminal can be situated on this reclaimed land facing the channel and well removed from Cochin Oil Terminal towards west.

Kochi Port has already started regaining the position it deserves in the development of Kerala and this region. "I have no doubt that in the years to come, it will not only be a centre for development of Kerala but to the rest of the region as well," Dr Thomas said.

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