The Hindu Business Line : Container lines concerned over delay in Vallarpardam terminal

CSLA has urged the Government to re-examine the current supply-demand position for container terminals with a view to bringing forward the planning and implementation of additional capacity.

V. Sajeev Kumar

Kochi, March 21 The Container Shipping Lines Association (India) has expressed concern over the likely delay in the commissioning of the Vallarpadam Container Transhipment Terminal and said that it would hit economic development.

The reaction comes in the wake of protracted delay in the acquisition of land, by the State Government, for rail and road connectivity to the project site.

CSLA, in a letter sent to the Union Government, has pointed out that “if these developments are being correctly reported, then once again it appears that the provision of the much needed additional container terminal capacity is being delayed”.

While it is acknowledged that the acquisition of the necessary land is not always easy, it must also be acknowledged that the requirement for additional capacity continues to grow, the letter said.

The CSLA has urged the Government to re-examine the current supply-demand position for container terminals with a view to bringing forward the planning and implementation of additional capacity.

Unless this is provided and the necessary inland links are established, this issue is going to constitute a major bottleneck, which will impede the country’s economic development, it said.

The CSLA further recommended that the Government should include the shipping lines in the review process in order that the latest views of the development of traffic demand may be incorporated therein.

It may be recalled that the Kerala Industries Minister had informed in the State Assembly that the commissioning of the Rs 2,000-crore project might be delayed by at least six months as against the set time frame of April 1, 2009, on account of the delay in land acquisition.