The Hindu Business Line : ICTT project will be finished on time: Kochi port chief

The Cochin Port Trust has allayed fears raised by certain quarters on the timely commissioning of the international container transhipment terminal project at Vallarpadam, even as the district administration faces some hurdles in land acquisition process for the road connectivity.

The issues have not at all dampened the prospects of the timely completion of the project even though the ongoing works related to the connectivity projects are going behind schedule in view of the delay in acquiring land, the Port Chairman, Mr N. Ramachandran, told Business Line.

Land acquisition

However, he reminded that any further delay in the land acquisition will have a serious impact and directly reflect on the commissioning of the project. The time to start the connectivity works is already over and there is hardly two months left with a fair weather. With the onset of monsoon, the ongoing work itself will be affected, he said.

Irrespective of this, the port is going ahead with all other preparatory works connected with the project, he said and expressed the hope that the project would be completed within in the set time frame of April, 1, 2009. Even the PMO has categorically stated that under no circumstances, the commissioning of the project would be deferred, Mr Ramachandran said.

The port, he said, had already started the construction work in the backwaters where there is no need for land acquisition. It had also requested the NHAI to speed up the work in the area where the land has already acquired. Mr Ramachandran also pointed out that the progress made by Rail Vikas Nikam Ltd for the rail connectivity is very substantial as they were able to complete 25 per cent of the work.

No cause for concern

The port is also expecting some opposition in acquiring land for rail line in the areas of Mulavukad, North Edappally and Vaduthala. Dismissing the apprehensions of the locals in these areas that the railway line will divide the area, he said it is totally baseless and the lines will be set up in elevated structures.

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