A large shipbuilding yard will soon be established at Ponnani port, marking a significant boost to industrial and maritime development in Kerala’s Malabar region, officials said on Sunday.
The tender process for the proposed shipyard, to be developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, has been completed. The project will come up on around 29 acres of coastal land on the western side of the Ponnani Fishing Harbour under the Kerala Maritime Board, making it the second shipyard in the state after Kochi.
Officials said the agreement with the selected private partner is expected to be signed within the next two weeks.
Along with shipbuilding infrastructure, a shipbuilding-related training institute will be set up to develop skilled manpower. Cargo-handling operations are also planned to commence soon after the shipyard becomes operational.
In the first phase, the facility will focus on building small vessels, for which a wharf will be constructed adjoining the breakwater at the estuary. This phase is expected to attract an investment of around ₹200 crore. In the second phase, large vessels will be built, with an estimated investment of about ₹1,000 crore over the next seven to ten years.
The project aims to develop Ponnani into the largest shipbuilding yard in Kerala after Kochi and is expected to generate direct employment for nearly 1,000 people.
Meanwhile, the district administration has decided to provide alternative facilities on the eastern side of the harbour for fish-drying units currently operating at the site earmarked for the shipyard. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the district collector.
Ponnani MLA P Nandakumar said the project would give a major fillip to the region’s development and appealed for the cooperation of local stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation.
