KOCHI:
Pon Radhakrishnan, Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, visited Cochin Port and reviewed the performance of Cochin Port Trust, in a meeting which was attended by Pravir Krishn, Joint Secretary (Ports), Ministry of Shipping, A.V. Ramana, Dy. Chairman, Cochin Port Trust and other Heads of Departments. The Minister appreciated the initiatives taken by Cochin Port to implement RFID based Gate Access System and Online Berth Allotment S
ystem towards facilitating trade and enhance efficiency. He noted that with the waiver of penal interest, the creditworthiness of Cochin Port has been enhanced for the Port to vigorously pursue new projects.
The Minister expressed keen interest in the cruise tourism promotion activities of Cochin Port and assured support for the new cruise terminal project planned at Ernakulam Wharf to accommodate cruise vessels in the most professional manner comparable to international standards. He also noted that the prospects of domestic
cruise tourism in India with cruise ships home-porting at Cochin are high. There are new opportunities for Cochin Port with prospective cruise liners showing interest in the circuit, Colombo-Cochin- Male-Colombo, and circuits connecting Mumbai and Male, calling Cochin enroute.
Pravir Krishn, Joint Secretary (Ports) noted that the hurdles faced by the Port are of short term nature, and that the Port should aggressively promote industrial manufacturing and related activities in its vast land area. The Joint Secretary (Ports) wanted Cochin Port to go for sizeable projects leveraging the Smart City project initiated by the Port. The Joint Secretary (Ports) directed Cochin Port Trust to prepare a futuristic 10-year plan to sustain itself in a profitable manner.
The Minister appreciated the efforts of Cochin Port on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and directed the Port to carry out zoning of its areas towards focussed attention involving all the stakeholders includin
g employees, trade and community. He also directed that efforts made may be documented towards demonstrating the effect of
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The Minister further directed that Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is directly monitored by the Prime Minister and the results may be apprised to the PMO.
