Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated multiple projects worth Rs 4,000 crore in Kochi, Kerala which includes key strategic initiatives at Cochin Shipyard. The major projects dedicated to the nation are the New Dry Dock (NDD) and the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of Cochin Shipyard (CSL) and LPG Import Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL).
The ISRF which will modernize and expand the existing ship repair capabilities of CSL has been built at a cost of about Rs 970 crore. It is equipped with a ship lift system with a capacity of 6000T, a transfer system, six workstations and a berth of approx.1,400 mtrs. which can accommodate seven vessels of 130-mtrs. length simultaneously. The PM said that the new LPG Import Terminal will meet the LPG needs of Kochi, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Calicut, Madurai, and Trichy and enable development activities and creation of new jobs in these areas.
The New Dry Dock is a one-of-a-kind 310-mtrs-long stepped dry dock, with a width of 75/60 mtrs., depth of 13 mtrs. and a draught of up to 9.5 mtrs., is one of the largest marine infrastructures in the region. The project, built at a cost of Rs 1,799 crore incorporates the latest technology and innovations to ensure efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability, and is expected to position India with advanced capabilities to handle strategic assets like future aircraft carriers upto 70,000T displacement as also large commercial vessels.
Further, Indian Oil’s LPG Import Terminal at Puthuvypeen, Kochi, built at the cost of about Rs 1,236 crore boasts a 15,400 MT storage capacity. The terminal will ensure a steady supply of LPG for millions of households and businesses in the region.
With the commissioning of these three projects, the shipbuilding and repair capacities and the growth of energy infrastructure including ancillary industries in India will get a boost. The projects will also bolster EXIM Trade, reduce logistics costs, build self-reliance and open domestic and international business opportunities.
