The Hindu Business Line : Lakshadweep plans dedicated berthing facility at Kochi

The Lakshadweep Administration is planning to set up a dedicated berthing facility at the Kochi Port for the passenger and cargo vessels plying between the mainland and the islands.Services to Lakshadweep are mainly from Kochi, Beypore and occasionally from Mangalore. But Kochi is the main embarkation and disembarkation station for passengers and tourists.

A dedicated berthing facility was necessitated because of the delays in departures at Kochi. This is due to the non-availability of berths and lack of loading and unloading facilities.

Since Lakshadweep ships are accommodated at a cargo berth, often embarkation/disembarkation gets delayed for hours causing hardship to passengers. In these circumstances, the Union Territory Administration had entrusted Kochi-based consultants KITCO Ltd to prepare a feasibility study for the construction of a dedicated berth at the Kochi Port. In its report, KITCO said that a dedicated berth would help timely berthing of the Union Territory's vessels. It pointed out that the number of vessels plying between the islands and the mainland had increased considerably in recent years.

KITCO suggested building a 300-metreberth with approach bridges. The port administration has agreed to allocate the area between the South Coal Berth and the Workshop Jetty on the Mattanchery Wharf for setting up the facility. It is also proposed to use the dredged material for reclamation and constructing a passenger terminal and a cargo storage with approach road and parking facilities.

Govt. grant

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 27.5 crore, which is to be funded by the Union Government as grant-in-aid. The project will generate a gross annual income of Rs 435.73 lakh and a retained profit of Rs 244.94 lakh in the first year, which will increase in the following years. The cash flow is positive and the internal rate of return is 8.09 per cent, reasonable for an infrastructure project. The project is expected to be completed in 36 months.

According to the consultants, the transportation requirements of the islands are constantly increasing with the rising population, the developments taking place in the islands, and the enhanced frequency of travel. The tourist traffic is also increasing steadily with more publicity on the speciality of the islands and awareness of ideal water sports activities in Lakshadweep.

The Union Territory administration operates two all-weather passenger ships and four all-weather cargo barges. In addition, there are three passenger ships and two inter-island ferries, which are operated during fair weather. Most of the essentials such as wheat, rice, sugar, vegetables, and building materials are transported from the mainland only during the fair season using motorised sailing vessels meant only for transporting cargo.

The Lakshadweep Administration and the Port Department are well aware of the transportation problems. The passenger traffic is also projected to increase multifold and the capacity of existing ships is not sufficient.

Fleet addtion

To ease the situation, a committee constituted for transportation and shipping requirements in the islands has submitted proposals to procure three high-speed ferries with a capacity to carry 150 passengers; two vessels of 250 passenger capacity; one vessel of 400 passenger capacity; and eight landing barges of about 100 passenger deck capacity to transport passengers from disembarkation point to the jetty. The Administration has initiated action for acquisition of three ships and the construction of seven.