Construction work on the first phase of Kerala’s dream project, the Vizhinjam International Deepsea Container Terminal, with an estimated cost of Rs 4,010 crore, will begin in a few months, the Port Minister, Mr K. Babu, said here today.

“The process of getting security clearance from the Centre is on and the state government expects to flag off the first container ship from the new terminal in 2015,” Mr Babu said.

The immediate task at hand is to complete the infrastructure facilities for the terminal by next year to ensure export promotion benefits, he said, adding that it has also been decided to install an electronic data inter-exchange system at the terminal.

He said schemes are in the pipeline to integrate 17 small and medium ports in Kerala with the Vizhinjam and Vallarpadam container terminals to improve cargo movement by sea as part of a comprehensive development programme.

The plan was to re-route cargo transport through inland waterways and sea, following protests over taking up construction of express highways due to high population density and land shortage, he said.

Kerala’s coastal line measures 590 km and it also has 205 of inland waterways.

Mr Babu said the plan was to divert a portion of the estimated 20,000 trucks carrying cargo using Kerala’s small roads to the sea route. Steps have also been taken to modernise important ports in the state.

Another major coastal development initiative was a plan to set up a maritime board, Mr Babu said, adding that the Government proposed to introduce a Bill in this regard in the current Assembly Session.

Development of ports, coastal areas and integrated inland navigation projects and coastal protection are some of the objectives of the board.

The state had also taken up the need to amend the Cabotage Law dealing with movement of ships from one port to another in the country with the Centre.

As per existing rules, only ships flying the Indian flag can transport cargo from one port to another in the country.

This has resulted in delayed movement of foreign-flagged containers following completion of the first phase of the Vallarpadam international container terminal in Kochi, it was pointed out.

Mr Babu said the Kerala Government has asked the Centre to make necessary concessions in the law to facilitate the ease of movement of container traffic from the new ports, adding that letters have been written to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the Shipping Minister and the Planning Commission in this regard.

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