Vallarpadam terminal hits roadblock
Work on road connectivity moves at a slow pace
Even as the construction work on the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam near here is going on at a brisk pace, concerns have been raised over the slow progress of the road connectivity project.
The terminal is expected to be operational by April 1, 2010.
The road connectivity between the terminal and NH 47 is crucial to the project as around 80 per cent of the container traffic will be by road in the initial stage, said Suresh Joseph, general manager of DP World, the developer of the terminal.
Even after repeated ultimatums from the Prime Minister’s Office, the work is still lagging owing to various reasons and it is unlikely that the road would be ready for the 4-lane traffic by March, 2010. Only 50 per cent of the road work has been so far completed.
A recent strike by tipper lorry workers had brought the work to a halt for 3 weeks and now shortage of river sand is only adding to the problem. Moreover, the slow progress in the linkage of bridges on the proposed road is a major hurdle as the two-lane traffic can be provided only when this is complete.
At some places, public outcry against the road is yet to be resolved.
The Cochin Port Trust has, however, assured DP World that the 2-lane traffic would be ready within the deadline. According to the contract between CPT and DP World, the former has to pay a huge compensation if the rail and road connectivity and allied infra facilities are not ready by March.
Work on the railway line between the terminal and Edappally too was impacted due to an agitation by dwellers of Makkaparambu area near Edappally. The dewellers are demanding a subway as the new railway line will literally cut them off from the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, the buildings would be completed by this December while yards by January next. The wharfs would become fully operational by March.
Courtesy : Business Standard
November 05, 2009, 0:12 IST
