The International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam is expected to be commissioned before February 18. Sources at Cochin port confirmed that the Prime Minister was likely to launch the terminal between February 11 and 18 but clearance from the PMO is awaited for the exact date. It is now certain that operations at the terminal will commence during the third week of February.
The terminal is close to becoming operational after a delay of almost two years as the commencement of operations was originally scheduled for April 2009.
Port sources said the commissioning should not be delayed further as Kerala would go for Assembly polls before this May. A delay now would mean it could be launched only after the elections, thanks to the Election Commission's model code of conduct. The top brass of the port, especially the chairman, is keen to have the ICTT commissioned before February 18. The election schedule is likely to be announced by March.
Meanwhile, there is serious concern over the completion of dredging at the basin of the new terminal. Port officials told Business Standard that dredging of 450 metre of the berth would be finished by the end of this month.
The port has to provide an average draft of 14.5 metre for a quay length of 600 metre. But this would not be possible by the end of this month. The operational schedule of dredging is that, for initial operations, 450m would be enough and the additional 150 metre could be provided later. It is the inordinate delay in the dredging that lagged the commissioning at least for six months. Rail connectivity and two-lane exclusive container road will be operational before mid-February.
N Ramachandran will continue as the chairman of the port till the commissioning of the terminal.