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V. Sajeev Kumar

Kochi, July 9 The Cochin Port Trust is planning to introduce a RO-RO (Roll On Roll Off) service between Willingdon and Vallarpadam Islands for the movement of containers to be exported once the International Container Transhipment Terminal at Vallarpadam gets commissioned.

The port Chairman, Mr N. Ramachandran, told Business Line that RO-RO facility is a major activity in international container terminals to carry wheeled cargo and this facility can also be adopted here for the benefit of the trade. A service like this is necessary as there are number of processing industries in Willingdon Island where stuffing and de-stuffing activities are going on, he said.

He said companies would be able to bring cargo through the existing roads leading to the port and then move it in barges by utilising RO-RO facility to Vallarpadam. This would help the marine processing industries in the Mattanchery and Alappuzha areas to move export consignments for shipment very fast avoiding the choked city roads, he said.

The port is anticipating private sector participation for the introduction of RO-RO service. The port will provide ramps, which allow the cargo to be effectively rolled on and rolled off the vessel. By introducing such a service, Willingdon Island can continue to be a hub of activities and there is no need to shift the operations of various processing industries from the island to outside areas in the city.

Meanwhile, Mr Ramachandran said the construction work at the ICTT project at Vallarpadam is fast progressing and the terminal will be ready for commissioning in November 2009.

The work on the rail and road connectivity is also progressing fast although there is some delay in land acquisition, he said.

The Union Shipping Minister, Mr T.R. Baalu, will be visiting the port on July 15 to personally assess the progress in land acquisition as well as the physical progress in the construction activities, he said.

A review meeting was held in Delhi last week to assess the progress of land acquisition. The State Government had given an assurance that by July 15 all land acquisitions would be completed, he said.

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