Kerala - Kochi   

Business plan proposes distribution park

Poised for growth: The port is expected to witness more hectic activity in the days to come.

KOCHI: The setting up of a distribution park to help consolidate and distribute cargo and turn Kochi Port into the main hub and gateway for Southern and Western India are among the suggestions made in a ‘Business Plan for Kochi Port’ prepared by by TransCare India Logistics.

The proposed park, targeting mainly freight forwarders and warehousing and distribution companies, will help integration of port handling and logistics services, said the plan said.

The setting up of a distribution park is also aimed at developing state-of-the-art agro-marine food processing units.

The plan suggests that frozen shrimps, squids, lobsters, tuna and mackerels can be among products processed at the food park along with coconut products to make tender coconut water as beverage, coconut milk, dried coconut powder, coconut cream etc.

Rubber products for export and agro produces like pepper, cardamom, cloves and cashew nuts can be processed at the proposed park.

The food processing centre can benefit from the Port-based special economic zone (PBSEZ) and it would require a quality control laboratory as well as facilities for storage and distribution of marine food products.

Accelerator-based radiation unit for spices and cashew nut has also been suggested as a facility at the food processing centre within the park.

According to the plan, the distribution park should come up on Vallarpadam Island, close to the proposed International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) where ‘sea transport and land distribution meet.’

The report suggested that the project should come up on nearly 54 hectares leased from the Cochin Port Trust with an investment of Rs.35 crore.

A public-private partnership model has been suggested for the project with a debt-equity ratio of 70:30.

The park will be an attractive proposal with economy of scale that can be achieved combining inter-modal transport and its closeness to a major container terminal, the report said.

The business plan said the distribution park offered good return on investments and that since the port might not have the competence to operate such a facility, it should seek an experienced operator.

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