KOCHI: Kochi is set to receive three more luxury cruise liners in the coming weeks promising a repeat of the last tourist season during which the Port received as many as 22 cruise liners. The busy schedule for Kochi as the new season starts augurs well for the Port, which has finalised plans for setting up a world-class cruise terminal to exclusively service cruise vessels.

N. Ramachandran, Port Trust Chairman, said on Thursday that the Port authorities were in the process of calling for request for proposals from companies that had responded to an invitation for expression of interest (EoI) for appointment of a consultant for the cruise terminal project.

Mr. Ramachandran said that the results of the invitation for EoI were encouraging with as many as 45 companies responding. The Port authorities have made a short list of the companies who are now being asked to submit their proposals.

The process is expected to be completed in a month, said the Port Trust Chairman who is also optimistic that the process can be completed without a hitch so that the consultant can be appointed on schedule to draw up the final plans for the international cruise terminal.

While the Port authorities have identified locations for the cruise terminal, it will be the consultant who will provide the finer details of the facility. The cruise terminal will include services and amenities of international standards. The estimated cost of the project, likely to be implemented on a Build Own Transfer (BOT) basis, is Rs.55 crore. The cruise terminal is expected to be ready in two years.

The tourism season got off to a colourful start for Kochi with the first vessel Star Flyer calling at the Port. The same cruise liner had called at Kochi in December last.

Seabourn Spirit, another luxury cruise liner, will call at the Port next Tuesday taking the number cruise vessels calling at the Port during the current month to three. The Spirit of Adventure called at the Port last week. Among the vessels that called at Kochi last year were Nautica, Pacific Princess, Star Flyer, Seabourn Spirit, and Europa.

Meanwhile, the Port Trust Chairman expressed optimism that work on the national highway connectivity to the proposed international container transshipment terminal on Vallarpadam Island would begin early next month.

The process of land acquisition has picked up momentum with the Port authorities advancing sufficient money to the Ernakulam district administration for the purpose of land acquisition.

In the first phase, more than three acres were handed over to the Port authorities. The National Highway Authority of India is executing the road link work.

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