The commissioning of the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam near here is likely to be delayed by at least a month. The Rs 1800-crore port-based infrastructure project was to become operational by April 1, 2010.
Speaking to Business Standard, a senior official of DP World - Cochin, the builder and operator of the terminal, said the commissioning would now happen only by May this year.
Road connectivity to the terminal site is a serious concern, the official said, adding it was way behind schedule due to various reasons including public protests and shortage of raw material, mostly sand.
The 15-km long road connects the terminal site with NH-47 at Kalamassery near Kochi city. So far, around 60 per cent of the work on the road has been completed.
The slow progress in the linkage of bridges on the proposed road is a major hurdle and once this is completed, 2-lane traffic can be provided by April, he said. The four-lane traffic would not be possible even by April 2010.
The Cochin Port Trust (CPT) has, however, assured DP World that the 2-lane traffic would be ready within the deadline.
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Nevertheless, the port trust and the Ernakulam district administration have lined up two alternatives to tide over the problem.
CPT has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Inland Waterway Authority of India to provide roll on-roll off/lift on-lift off barge service for transportation of containers between Willingdon and Vallarpadam islands. Modern inland waterway terminals are being set up at Willingdon and Bolghatty near ICTT to facilitate the service and would link all the 11 existing National Waterway-3 terminals from Kollam to Kottappuram with the new port logistic chain leading to ICTT. The new port logistic chain includes the proposed Vizhinjam International seaport near Thiruvananathapuram, which is a major port, and minor ports in southern locations like Alappuzha and Kollam.
The other alternative is allowing container movement through the Vypeen–Parur road during night.
On the other hand, construction of the railway line between the terminal and Edappally is in the final stage as issues with the dwellers of Makkaparambu area near Edappally had been sorted out. The 8.86-km rail link project is expected to be ready in 8-10 weeks. It is estimated to cost Rs 246 crore.
Under the agreement between CPT and DP World, both road and rail connectivity and the required draft in the shipping channels are to be provided by the port trust before the commissioning of the terminal.
On the ICTT project, the official said 82 per cent of the work was complete and the berth would be ready by March end.
Meanwhile, a meeting of DP World Cochin and CPT is slated for next week to take a decision on the date of commissioning.