Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has agreed to provide all necessary
assistance for the 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 the 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 the 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 the state government.
State Maritime Board and the state government 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 government by following the guidelines
of Sagarmala to utilize 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 that port officials submit a comprehensive development
proposal to the central govt under Sagarmala project at the earliest for the overall
development of Kollam Port and the initiation of passenger, cargo, and luxury ship services
and related infrastructure development.
He sent a letter to the state port minister, the port department secretary and the chairman
of the state maritime board in this regard.