Kerala govt plans coastal shipping project

Kerala government has worked out a comprehensive development programme for ports and coastal shipping by linking ports and in-land waterways, Minister for Ports K Babu told the assembly on Thursday.

As part of the programme, 17 small and medium ports would be integrated along with Vizhnijam and Vallarupadam Container Terminal in Kochi to improve the cargo movement through state coast, Babu said while replying to a calling attention.

Effort was to re-route the cargo transport through inland ways and sea by maximum utlisation of these facilities, he said. Kerala has a total coastal line of 590 KM and 205 km inland waterways.

According to an estimate, about 20,000 trucks carrying cargo run through Kerala's small roads daily. The plan was to divert a portion of the truck transport by sea route, he said. Steps had also been taken to modernise important ports in the state, he added.

Development of port, coastal areas, taking up integrated inland navigation projects and coastal protection were some of projects underway, he said. Kerala had also taken up with the Centre the need to amend the Cabotage Law that deals with movement of ships from one port to another in the country.

As per the existing rules, only ships carrying Indian flags could transport cargo from one port to another in the country.