As his port hopes to compete with Vallarpadam as a state-owned transshipment hub, Manoj Joshi, CEO, Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), and Secretary (Ports), Kerala Government, responds to questions from Infrastructure Today.
What outlays have you set aside between 2010 and 2020 for road and rail connectivity?
The rail and road connectivity under external infrastructure has earmarked approximately Rs 250 crore. Augmentation will need to be planned for purely on traffic as the port enters into full swing operations, since Vizhinjam is being conceived in stages. The project also looks at the supporting logistics facilities like truck terminals, warehouses and other ancillary storage and facilities in the backup areas of the port.
A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), formed for the purpose of developing the port, will create and own the basic infrastructure assets. This SPV is in the process of acquiring the land required for all the connectivity and the logistical support facilities. The exact mode of development is not finaÂlised as the state has approached the Centre for connectivity to the port to be included in its scheme of last mile connectivity for ports. The truck terminals, container freight stations (CFSs), warehouses, etc. could be conceived in a PPP mode if there is an appetite from the private investor.
Has your state planned for inland and coastal shipping as an alternative mode of hinterland transport?
Kerala is planning major developments in inland and coaÂsÂtal shipping to support the major and minor ports along the 590 km coastline and 205 km inland waterways. NW III, the west coast canal from Kollam to Kottapuram, runs parallel to the coast and has captive terminals developed by private parÂtÂÂies along its length. A comprehensive development prograÂmme for ports and coastal shipping links the ports and inlÂand waterways.
As part of the programme, 17 small and medium ports would be integrated along with proposed Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram and Vallarpadam Container Terminal in Kochi, to improve the cargo movement through state. AccorÂding to an estimate, about 20,000 trucks carrying cargo run through Kerala's small roads daily. The plan is to divert a portion of the truck transport by sea. Kerala had also taken up with the Centre the need to amend the Cabotage Law that deals with movement of ships along the Indian coast.
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