Kerala - Kochi   

Experts' panel calls for additional inputs

Staff Reporter

Road link to container transshipment terminal at Vallarpadam

KOCHI: A panel of experts on environment for infrastructure projects has called for additional inputs on the proposed road link between National Highway 47 at Kalamassery and the site for the proposed International Container Transshipment Terminal on Vallarpadam island.

The sub-committee members, along with officials of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, were in Kochi on Saturday and Sunday to make spot visits and meet local officials and experts regarding the alignment of the road link to the terminal.

Under the licence agreement between the Cochin Port Trust and India Gateway Terminals (P) Limited (DP World), the port trust is to provide the road link between the NH and the island.

The Union Government has agreed to bear the entire cost of the road and rail link.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has been entrusted with the task of constructing a four-lane road link between Vallarpadam and the NH at a point near Kalamassery.

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has been entrusted with the task of building the rail link to the transhipment terminal site.

The link will be between Edappally railway station and Vallarpadam.

The NHAI has taken up the issue of environmental clearance for the project and the visit of the panel of experts to the city has been to study the proposals.

The purpose of the team's visit is to make field inspections and get first-hand information over the various environmental issues involved, said a release from the Cochin Port Trust.

The panel of experts made extensive field visits to inspect the proposed alignment.

They also met officials of the Cochin Port Trust, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI, Centre for Earth Science Studies, Kerala State Coastal Management Authority, Kerala State Science Technology and Environment Department and the Ministry of Shipping.

Various issues and plans to mitigate concerns have been discussed, the release said.

Besides, the panel called for clarifications before the matter was taken up at the next meeting of the expert committee on infrastructure projects, the release said.

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