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.
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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.