The Hindu Business Line : Lakshadweep urges setting up exclusive berth at Kochi port

To cater to the needs of the islanders, the Lakshadweep Administration has mooted a proposal to set up a dedicated berth facility at Kochi port for servicing its passenger as well as cargo vessels ferrying passengers from the island to the mainland.

It is proposed to construct a 300-metre berth at the south of Mattanchery Wharf and the location identified for the berth is near the South Coal Berth. According to the feasibility report submitted by the Kochi-based consultants KITCO Ltd, the total investment for the project is estimated at Rs 27.5 crore.

MoU soon

Sources in the port said that a memorandum of understanding is likely to be signed between Cochin Port Trust and the Island Administration soon for the purpose.

The port will provide land for the facility on a long-term lease and execute the building of the berth.

The proposal in this regard was discussed at the last meeting of the Board of Trustees. Once the proposal is finalised, it will be forwarded to the Union Government for approval.

Though the berth will be an exclusive facility for the Lakshwadeep Island vessels, it is likely to be used to service other vessels when there are no vessels from the Island.

Sharing of the money accruing from such services between the Port Trust and the Island Administration will be finalised for the purpose, the sources said.

Currently, the Island Administration plies two vessels - MV Tipu Sultan and MV Bharat Seema - in the monsoon season for the passenger ferry services. Besides, there are five other vessels that service the Islands during fair weather.

Big relief

Normally there are sailings between Lakshadweep Island and the mainland once in five days and the journey takes between 16 and 18 hours. The building of an exclusive facility will be a big relief for the passengers from the Islands.

The port is currently facing difficulties in allotting a particular berth for the island administration to anchor its vessels due to the growing number of cargo vessels. As there is no exclusive facility for the Lakshadweep ships, shifting of vessels and delays are experienced often. With the setting up of the new facility, bunkering facility and passenger amenities that are now lacking at the open wharves could be provided for the Lakshadweep bound vessels. The building of the new facility comes in tandem with the proposal put forward by the Lakshadweep Island Administration to acquire more vessels of different sizes during the current Plan period to meet its ferry service needs.