Posted on July 7, 2025
The capital dredging work proposed at Beypore Port to remove virgin material from the seabed and deepen the existing waterway to allow easier navigation of larger vessels is likely to be completed by February 2026.
Sources with the Kerala Maritime Board said the channel depth, currently at 3.7 metres, will be increased to 5.50 metres upon completion of the work, which had earlier faced delays due to rock formations. They added that the depth could be increased to 7.0 metres in a phased manner in the future.
According to officials, the State government has already sanctioned ₹11.80 crore for the project, which has been pending for over eight years. The project, reviewed recently by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will be carried out based on the hydrographic survey wing’s report.
To meet additional financial requirements, the Harbour Engineering wing has submitted a separate estimate of ₹82.80 crore to the State government. Efforts are also under way to include the port’s development needs under the Union government’s Sagarmala initiative.
The lack of adequate draught — the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of a ship’s hull — has been restricting vessel movement to Beypore Port. The proposal for a passenger ship service also remains stalled due to the long-pending dredging work.
