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Coastal Shipping to Aid Kochi Terminal Growth

  • Shipping industry in Kochi on Monday hailed the proposal in the state budget to develop 17 minor and medium ports and promote coastal shipping."This will be a great initiative for tapping the potentials of massive infrastructure projects like the Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT). Cargo coming to the terminal can be moved to certain parts of the country by the sea route itself and this will help reduce congestion on the roads. Estimates also have it that the sea route will bring down the transportation cost at least by 25%,'' an official of the DP World, which had set up the ICTT, told TOI.

  • The proposal to set up container freight stations at Vallarpadam and Cherthala will also be beneficial to the ICTT as it will help speed up the handling of cargo at the terminal. Another interesting project for the port sector is the proposal to develop the Kochi-Coimbatore industrial corridor and the National Investment and Manufacturing Zone at Kochi and Palakkad.Though the budget is not known to have made any allocation for these projects, sources in the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation said there are bright scopes for availing Central aid for them.

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