The State government will write to the Centre asking for a Rs.400-crore aid package for the Kochi port and for the Vallarpadam container terminal, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the Assembly on Monday. He was replying to a submission moved by Benny Behanan.
Revenue deficit
“Vallarpadam is operating at one-third its capacity. So there is a revenue deficit there. The State government has already asked for a three-year dredging subsidy. If the LNG terminal becomes active it will spell good news for the port too,” he said.
Mr. Behanan pointed out that the port has been asked to cough up Rs.110 crore for dredging the shipping channel.
All agencies — including the Navy and the Coast Guard — which use the shipping channel should be asked to share this financial burden, he said.
