KOCHI: The Cochin Port Trust has revised land utilisation plan in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Shipping. As per the new plan, the Port management will focus on optimum utilisation of land available in the North of Willingdon island, which is the centre of shipping business. The plan envisages land utilisation for next 30 years. The earlier Land Use Plan of Cochin Port for 2001-2015 was prepared in 2001.“The land use plan forms the matrix for a balanced development of the port by planned distribution of the land for various activities. The requirement of land for future expansion projects of the port, trade that adds to the cargo and vessel volumes and area required for port users for creating allied facilities services have been considered while preparing the plan,” said the port authorities. The Cochin Port Trust has under its jurisdiction an approximate area of 886.046 hectares of land at various locations including Willingdon Island (385.82 hectares.), Bolghatty (16.670 hectares.), Vallarpadam (163.637 hectares), Puthuvypeen (308.552 hectares.), Ernakulam ( 5.447 hectares), Fort Kochi (2.06 hectares), and Palluruthy (3.86 hectares). Under the Plan, the port management will mainly focus on reclaiming the land leased out to various companies in North of Willingdon Island. The land owned by Port Trust at the Island includes 233.44 hectares of reclaimed area. The port management has leased 76.53 hectares of land to government/quasi-government and private organisations for port-related activities. After the shifting of the container terminal operation to Vallarpadam, the Port management is focusing on developing Ernakulam wharf as a major bulk cargo consolidation centre in South India. The Port Trust has already invited bids for the mechanisation of Q8-Q9 berths where 12.5-metres draft is available for handling dry bulk cargo and for Q-5 berth for setting up bulk cement handling plant.The port management has decided not to renew the agreements under which land was allotted to companies for Port-related activities. The lease agreements of land available on the North side, especially those near to the Ernakulam and Mattanchery wharfs, will be renewed to only those who can assure the port that they could bring in cargo, said the authorities.Those who will have to surrender land will be relocated at a a most-modern business complex proposed to be built in the middle of the Willingdon Island.“Companies can hire built-up area at the complex which will have all required facilities such as banks, star-rated hotels and all other facilities required. The land reclaimed from lessees will be utilised for setting up of modern storage facilities,” port authorities said.
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