The State government has approved a Rs.4.8-crore project to equip the Beypore port and Vizhinjam harbour with modern facilities.
Minister for Ports K. Babu said here on Sunday that administrative sanction had been accorded for a Rs.380-lakh project to develop the Beypore port. The major chunk of the outlay (Rs.300 lakh) would be spent on installing reach stackers for the movement of cargo containers from the wharf to the stacking area.
An official pressnote quoting Mr. Babu said a comprehensive fire-fighting system would be installed at the port at a cost of Rs.60 lakh. A Vessel Traffic Monitoring System (VTMS) was another major facility to be introduced at the port.
ADVERTISEMENT
The pressnote said the new facilities were being installed at Beypore as part of implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, a comprehensive set of measures to enhance maritime security.
A meeting convened by the Minister here on Sunday decided to sanction Rs.1 crore for the development of the harbour at Vizhinjam. The outlay would be spent on installing channel marking buoys and fire-fighting equipment. The amount had been sanctioned under the coastal shipping scheme.
Mr. Babu announced an additional commitment of Rs.30 lakh for installing pitless weigh bridges at the port and at the harbour.
ADVERTISEMENT
The meeting decided to earmark Rs.65 lakh for the development of the Valiathura fishing harbour. The proposed activities included installation of channel marking buoys and an Environmental Impact Assessment study for the construction of a passenger terminal.
The EIA study will cover floating terminals, floating breakwater and reconstruction of the Valiathura pier. Besides, an amount of Rs.20 lakh had been approved for the installation of a Vessel Traffic Monitoring System at the Kollam harbour.