CCEA approves Rs 2,077 crore dredging project

New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved for 69 million cubic metre of dredging in 4 packages to Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) on nomination basis, in Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP).

DCI is a public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Department of Shipping.

The cost of the dredging project is likely to be Rs 2,077.25 crore.

The SSCP Project envisages cutting of a ship channel to connect the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay so that most of the ships, depending on draft required, moving between east and west coast of India could have a continuous navigable sea route around the peninsula within India's own territorial waters, an official spokesman said here.

This will save upto 424 nautical miles of sailing distance and upto 30 hours of sailing time for ships between east and west coast.

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