The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Vizhinjam terminal project uncertainty over, says VS

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Vizhinjam terminal project uncertainty over, says VS

Staff Reporter

First phase construction to be completed in year and a half

— Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

TRADITIONAL START: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurating the project office of Vizhinjam International Sea Port Ltd. at Vizhinjam on Wednesday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said that the government will complete the first phase construction of the proposed international transhipment container terminal at Vizhinjam within one-and-a-half years.

He was speaking after inaugurating the project office of Vizhinjam International Sea Port Ltd. at Vizhinjam on Wednesday. The project office will coordinate and monitor all development activities related to the terminal.

The terminal will be constructed with financial support of the government and private agencies. The government has allocated Rs.450 crore for the first phase. Steps are on to acquire land for essential infrastructure projects in the area such as a six-lane road, rail connectivity, power and water supply, a container yard and a truck terminal. “We hope to indentify a suitable private partner to continue the work on the container terminal by the completion of the first phase,” Mr. Achuthanandan said.

He said the government’s aim would be to make the terminal a hub of commercial shipping activities in South Asia. With work scheduled to begin at the earliest, the uncertainty surrounding the project was finally over, he said.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs M. Vijayakumar, who presided over the function, said the inauguration of the project office was proof that despite occasional setbacks and failures, the government would reach its goal of constructing the terminal.

Minister for Revenue K.P. Rajendran talked about the enormous job potential for the local populace once the construction was over.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies C. Divakaran described the project as the future of the State. He also spoke about some of the significant Cabinet decisions taken on Wednesday to combat price hike such as distribution of rice and sugar at Rs.13 and Rs.25, respectively.

Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran, Mayor C. Jayan Babu and George Mercier, MLA, were present.

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