Minister for Excise and Ports K. Babu said here on Friday that a project would be drawn up for the development of ports in the State with a view to encouraging movement of goods through waterways.
Addressing a conference of members of the Assembly and officials of the Ports Department convened to discuss modernisation of ports, the Minister said movement of goods through roads were becoming costly and difficult on account of traffic congestion. Water transport offered a low- cost alternative.
Mr. Babu noted that goods traffic in the State was bound to increase with the commissioning of Vizhinjam International transshipment project and Vallarpadam the Container Terminal.
The conference decided to award the contract for development of Beypore Port to the public sector Infrastructures Kerala Ltd. The project will cost Rs.177.7 crore. The services of the T.K.M. Engineering College will be sought for a study connected to the development of Kollam Port. A conference of shipping agents will be convened towards making maximum use of ports for goods traffic.
The Minister told the conference that efforts would be made for revival of the once-famous Kodungallur port. Assistance from the National Fisheries Development Board would be sought for ports development, he said.
