Posted on October 6, 2016
The much delayed dredging work at Azhikkal port here, to deepen the channel draft, is expected to begin very soon, as the pipes to pump the sludge from the dredger has reached here.
The pipes were brought from Gujarat and the work of joining them to the dredger, CSD Chadragiri, would begin soon so that the dredging work could be taken up in the second week of this month, according to the officials. The total length of the pipes would come to 1500 metres.
According to the officials, the depth is between 2.5 metres to 3 metres in many places, which should be increased to 5.5 to 6 metres for the bigger ships to reach the port. If the dredging work begins this month, the authorities hope to complete it within six months and the cargo shipping service could begin next financial year, said the officials.
Minister for Ports Kadannapally Ramachandran, who visited the port recently, had said steps would be initiated to complete all the development works of Azhikkal Port here in a time bound manner and the Ports Department would prepare the projects on priority basis to utilise the fund of Rs 500 crore earmarked in the State budget this year through special investment package.
Source: The Times of India
