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CHENNAI, Jan. 13

THE Shipping Ministry is planning to bring down the timeframe for submitting a detailed feasibility study of the planned Sethusamudram ship canal project in Tamil Nadu from two years, to around six months, said the Union Minister for Shipping, Mr Vedprakash P Goyal.

While the tender stipulates the study to be undertaken in two years, the Ministry feels it was too long a period, and would like to have the report in around six months. "I want to see the ships passing through the canal in two years, and not getting the report only," he told presspersons here

The Tuticorin Port Trust (TPT), the nodal agency appointed by the Union Government for the project, had received a few bids, which were being evaluated.

The Union Government in September last floated a global tender to select a consultant for conducting a detailed feasibility study of the planned ship canal project in two parts.

The first part would focus on the techno-economic viability of the Sethusamudram ship canal linking the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar on the east coast by creating a shipping canal through the Rameswaram Island. This will provide a continuous navigable sea route around the peninsula. The second part will be devoted to undertaking a detailed environment impact assessment (EIA) study of the ship canal.

The total cost of study was expected to be around Rs 4.5 crore, the Minister said.

The Sethusamudram project involves widening and deepening of the Pamban channel to facilitate the movement of coastal ships of the size of 3,000 tonnes.

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