Developmental works for Vallarpadam progressing on schedule

Kochi, Jul 17 (UNI) The developmental works for the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam here are progressing on schedule and the construction work is likely to begin in January, 2007, as planned.

Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu last night reviewed the progress of the Vallarpadam and other developmental projects of the Cochin Port Trust at a meeting attended by union shipping secretary A K Mohapatara, joint secretary, Ports, A K Bhatia, and CPT chairman N Ramachandran.

The minister was informed that the India Gateway Terminal Private Ltd of the Dubai Ports World, which took over the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal last year, has already conducted soil inspection, test piling and studies on shipping moorings at Vallapadam island.

They have also engaged inernationally reputed design consultants for the terminal. It is expected that the IGTPL will finalilse the drawings and designs in consulatation with Cochin Port Trust before October, 2006.

Construction of the Container Terminal at Vallarpadam is expected to commence by January 2007 and to be completed by January 2009.

The Railway Connectivity Project to Vallarpadam is to be executed by the Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd on behalf of the Railway Board with the budgetary support of Department of Shipping. Rs 50 crore has already been earmarked in the current year's budget.

A four-lane, 17.2 km long National Highway connectivity will be provided to Vallarpadam by the National Highway Authority of India.

Enviromental clearance for the project has been received.

The NHAI is expected to invite tenders next month and award the contract by the end of October 2006. The work is to commence by December 2006 and is be completed within 30 months.

The land acquisition process is at the final stage and it has also been decied to make advance payment of Rs 25 crore from the Port to facilitate completion of land acquisition and early shifting of utilities from the proposed road alignment.

The first phse of capital dredging has already been completed by the Cochin Port Trust by achieving 12.5 m of the draft at RGCT in February 2006 and in the next phase, 14.5 M of draft is to be provided by April 2009.

In response to a request of the Cochin Port Trust, the Kerala finance minister has announced Sales Tax/VAT exemptions for the Bunkering Terminal Project and the formal notifiaction is expected shortly. The tender issue is scheduled for October 2006.

UNI ARC DK1313