Kochi, Monday, January 25, 2010: According to the Union Shipping Secretary K. Mohandas, the proposed International Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam would be commissioned only in June 2010.

The main reason for the delay is the pending works related to the two lane road.

The project is being executed by the Dubai Port World. Union Shipping Secretary K. Mohandas, also informed that crisis in the Dubai World Company would not affect the ICTT project.

The new terminal will make Cochin a key centre in the shipping world reducing India’s dependence on foreign ports to handle transhipment. Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal is India’s first global hub terminal worth Rs. 2,118 crore (US$442 million). It will soon change the development map of Kerala.

The main feature of it is that it will help to stay away from transshipment of Indian containers through the bordering foreign ports like Colombo, Singapore and Salalah.India will become self dependent in transshipment.

The Vallarpadam Island had all the requirements and qualifications of a ship terminal. It has a well developed connection to the National Highways and railways. When commissioned Vallarpadam is will be a gift to India as it is one of the best hub ports in the world.

The major openings along with the establishment of Vallarpadam terminal are the Rs 1,600-crore LNG terminal, Petro chemical complex for Gas Authority of India (Rs 7,000-crore), International Ship Repair complex (Rs 315-crore), the port-based Special Economic Zone (Rs 1,510-crore), SBM (single buoy moorings) for Kochi Refineries Ltd (Rs 720-crore), International bunkeringterminal, International Marina, Bulk cargo terminals, Cruise ship terminals, etc.