News

        KOCHI, DEC 30: THE Kerala government is keen on completing the rail and road connectivity to Vallarpadam international container transhipment terminal (ICTT) by March 2010. which is the deadline for commissioning of the first phase of the terminal.

         The state Chief Secretary, Ms Neela Gangadharan, held a meeting here to review the progress of the connectivity projects.

          She reviewed the deepening of the shipping channel: building of the rail link by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd and the construction of the road connectivity by the National Highways authority of India.

         Any delay, even minor, in completing the work will mean enormous liability for the state government.

         Work on the rail link, which had made rapid progress, was disrupted following a controversy over the builiding of a subway, en route. However, this glitch has been sorted out.

          A major problem that delayed road work recently was the scarcity of materials like sand and granite stones.

         The Cochin Port Trust (CoPT) Chariman, Mr N.Ramachandran, told the meeting that dredging of the channel for the project was in progress and would be completed on schedule.