Union ministry of ports and shipping has agreed to provide all necessary assistance for comprehensive development of Kollam port, said N K Premachandran, MP.
Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal, in a written response in the Lok Sabha, said that steps should be taken to enable the comprehensive development of Kollam port to accommodate passenger ships, cargo ships and luxury ships, and to start a shipping service to Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep.
The minister said Centre had allocated funds for the multi-purpose development project of the port. Also, the project to develop the port to allow ships of various categories to dock was completed with central financial assistance.
Since Kollam port is not classified as a major port, the authority for its development lies with state govt.
State maritime board and state govt need to submit a proposal to bring passenger, cargo and luxury ships to Kollam port. The minister urged the maritime board to submit a proposal through the state govt in accordance with the guidelines of Sagarmala project to utilise the potential of Kollam port. The port’s needs could be addressed by including it in Sagarmala project, which provides financial assistance for comprehensive development
projects, the minister said.
Premachandran requested port officials to submit a comprehensive development proposal to central government under Sagarmala project at the earlierst for the overall development of Kollam Port and the initiation of passenger, cargo, luxury ship services and related infrastructure development.
He sent a letter to state port minister, the port department secretary and the chairman of the state maritime board in this regard.