The Union Ministry of Ports and Shipping has committed to offering all the support required for Kollam Port’s overall growth. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal disclosed this. Measures should be implemented to allow Kollam port to grow fully so that it can handle luxury, cargo, and passenger ships as well as launch a shipping service to Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep. According to the minister, the port’s multipurpose development project has been funded by the Centre. Additionally, with central financial aid, the project to develop the port to allow ships of different classifications to dock was finished.
The state government is in charge of Kollam Port’s development. To introduce passenger, cargo, and luxury ships to Kollam port, the state government and state marine board must submit a proposal. In order to utilize the potential of Kollam port, the minister encouraged the maritime board to submit a proposal through the state government in compliance with the Sagarmala project rules.
According to the minister, the port’s demands could be met by including it into the Sagarmala project, which offers funding for extensive development initiatives. For the overall development of Kollam Port and the start of passenger, cargo, luxury ship, and related infrastructure development, MP Premachandran asked port officials to submit a comprehensive development proposal to the federal government under the Sagarmala project as soon as possible. In this regard, he wrote to the chairman of the state marine board, the secretary of the port department, and the state port minister.
