Kottayam container depot nears completion

Kochi: The State Government has accorded minor port status to the first inland container depot (ICD), which is nearing completion at Muttam in Kottayam district on public private participation under the Indian Ports Act 1908.

The project is a joint venture promoted by Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (KINFRA) and the South Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) with Central Government assistance.

This is an export promotion facility being set up with assistance from the Union Commerce Ministry, which is to be operated through road and water ways.

The facility will have the capacity to handle 250 TEU of containers, for both export and import.

This is being set up with the intention of catering to the needs of nearly 1,000 registered export/import concerns operating from the districts of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki.

The project has the uniqueness being the first inland waterway port in India.

The facility will be open to public in the near future for commercial shipping operations.

Declaration of Kottayam as a minor port will also regulate the movement of vessels and prevent clandestine operations as well as assist in the Government’s efforts for industrial, agricultural and tourism development of the region and development of inland waterways, a release issued by KINFRA said.

Officials in the SICCI pointed out that the Kottayam Port and Container Terminal has been mooted to utilise the immense potential of the inland navigation in Kerala.

The project will be of real utility to those in the central part of the State once the Shipping Ministry’s proposal to connect the Vaikkom-Kottayam waterways to National Waterway No 3 materialises.

The objective is to promote cargo consolidation and use the potential of inland waterways. Moreover, the total logistic cost can be reduced by resorting to road as the mode of transport, to Kochi port from Kottayam.

It is pointed out that nearly 18,500 TEUs of containers are being transported from the central part to the port by road.

The setting up of an ICD at Kottayam will help increase export activities from these districts.