The Hindu Business Line : Shifting Vallarpadam to a new site proposed

THE Cochin Port Trust Officers Association (CPTOA) has suggested that if the location of the proposed international container transhipment terminal project is shifted from Vallarpadam site to nearby Puthuvypeen, there would be a considerable reduction in the total project cost on account of low dredging charges.

Submitting a revised proposal for the ICTT project to the Deputy Chairman of the Port, Mr P.M. Mohammed Haneef, President of CPTOA, said that a change in the location to Puthuvypeen would cost only about Rs 1,200 crore for the execution of the project instead of the estimated project of Rs 2,000 crore.

He pointed that the capital dredging cost in the new location could be reduced from Rs 220 crore to Rs 140 crore as well as the maintenance dredging cost from Rs 63 crore to Rs 28 crore per annum because the siltation would be less compared to the inner channel.

The future development to accommodate 5th and 6th generation vessel is possible at the Puthuvypeen location by increasing the draft even up to 21 metres with optimum cost, he said and added that the development of the new location is towards the sea, which is matching with the world scenario.

Likewise, the Puthuvypeen site is ideal for the terminal project as it has more backup area for various infrastructure facilities including warehousing.

Moreover, there is no restriction for height crane as it is outside the flying funnel area of the Southern Naval Command, he said.

According to Mr Haneef, the bidders who participated in earlier tenders opined that the initial investment would be high if the terminal is set up at Vallarpadam.

They cited high cost for capital as well as maintenance dredging in the location.

Apart from this, the bidders also raised apprehension about the soil condition at Vallarpadam, which would lead to high construction costs.