Minister for Ports K. Babu has said that the government aims at making Kollam a port of call for passenger ships by Onam this year. Infrastructure development of the port is being carried out in such a manner that the authorities are hopeful of achieving the target, he has said.
Mr. Babu was addressing a gathering at the Kollam cargo port complex after inaugurating the operations of a tug and a container crane at the port on Tuesday. He said the work on constructing a wharf at the port for passenger ships at a cost of Rs.20 crore had been tendered.
Minor ports were being developed at Vizhinjam, Kodungalloor, Ponnani, Beypore, and Azheekkal with the aim of tapping the State’s coastal shipping potential. He recalled that the coastal shipping project of the State was launched at the Kollam port by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in November last.
Fishermen’s interestsThe Minister said he had attended a meeting with the stakeholders of the Kollam port. A proposal was put forth to open a commercial taxes office at the port complex and it would be seriously considered. He said all development activities would be taken forward only after protecting the interests of the fishing community who lived in its vicinity. The port had come up in Kollam by tapping the facility of the Tangasseri breakwater project constructed to house a fishing harbour for the traditional fishing sector. The State government had submitted the harbour’s third phase development plan, estimated at Rs.49 crore, to the Centre.
Locker roomAt the State government’s cost, 80 locker rooms would be constructed for traditional fishermen. The Corporation would build 40 lockers. Two auction halls were also being constructed at a cost of Rs.1.60 crore.
The meeting, presided over by P.K. Gurudasan, MLA, was inaugurated by N.K. Premachandran, MP. Mayor Prasanna Earnest and Corporation councillor George D. Kattil spoke. Director of Ports P.I. Shiek Pareeth welcomed the gathering.
