Kochi: The Cochin Shipyard’s Rs 1,799 crore dry dock project is expected to increase the country’s share in global shipbuilding to two per cent, says Nitin Gadkari, Union minister for shipping, road transport and highways.
Speaking after laying the foundation for India’s largest dry dock here, he said at present the country's share is 0.66 per cent.
He ruled out the possibility of privatising the shipyard.
“The profit-making Cochin Shipyard will not be privatised. We will never allow a private person to take this because the Cochin Shipyard is in good profit,” he said.
The Rs 3,200 crore commercial shipbuilding industry in the country focuses primarily on small-medium sized offshore vessels and cargo or bulk carriers.
The new drydock will be 310 m long and 75 m wide with a depth of 13 m and a drought of 9.5 m and designed to handle both shipbuilding and repairs.
It can bear a load up to 600 T/m with international safety standards. It will have a water treatment plant and green belt development.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said CSL’s project would pave the way to the development of the country along with the growth of Kerala. "Kerala government is giving great importance to the inland water transport and water based-tourism projects," he said.
"The completion of the Vizhinjam harbour will play a significant role in the development of logistics and tourism sectors."
Gadkari praises Pinarayi
Union minister of shipping, road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari has praised chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for progress in the national highway and GAIL pipeline laying.
The land acquisition process for the expansion of the national highways gained traction after Mr Vijayan became the CM, Mr Gadkari said in Kannur after laying the foundation of three NH projects. He lauded his role in the completion of the land acquisition for the GAIL pipeline project to evacuate gas from the Petronet LNG terminal here.
Mr Gadkari said the Union government had provided '450 crore for rebuilding infrastructure following the floods.
