Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said his government plans to expedite the construction activities of Vizhinjam port after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his commitment to make it a reality.
"PM assured that the proposed Colachel port (in Tamil Nadu) is not going to affect the economic prospects of the Vizhinjam project. He also said that the Centre is committed to make Vizhinjam project a reality," Vijayan told reporters after meeting Modi on Friday.
"We have expressed our concerns over the in-principle nod given to the Colachel port as it would affect the economic prospects of both the ports. Our concern is real," he said.
A new port within 30 km of Vizhinjam will affect the prospects of both the ports. Centre had already approved a viability gap fund of 800 crore for Vizhinjam, Vijayan said.
"Earlier, the Shipping ministry had questioned the need for a new port at Vizhinjam as we already have a transshipment terminal at Cochin.
"As per the directions of Planning Commission, until a port attains 90 per cent of its capacity or completes 15 years after its construction, no new port must be allowed within a radius of 100 km. But the PM has taken a stand that the proposed Colachel port is not going to affect the Vizhinjam project," Vijayan said.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan said the speeding-up of Vizhinjam project indicates a healthy competition between the states.
"Both the ports would help the nation develop. We have two ports along the Tamil Nadu coastline. Similarly, Maharashtra also has got two ports nearby. This will add to the development of the nation as whole," he said.
Vijayan, during the meeting with Modi, demanded to include Vizhinjam project in the Sagar Mala project, which is a strategic and customer oriented initiative of the Union Government to modernise India's ports.
"We are planning to complete the construction works within a time frame. We are concerned but we can't drop the project. We need to finish the project fast. The only option available as of now is to expedite the construction works," he said.
Meanwhile, Radhakrishnan thanked Modi for taking a firm stand for the proposed Colachel port and said he hoped that the Tamil Nadu government would also take a speedy decision to expedite the necessary steps to make Colachel port a reality.
(PTI)
