CPT unveils Willingdon Island Redevelopment Projects
TNN | Mar 16, 2012, 04.26AM IST
KOCHI: The Cochin Port Trust (CPT) has unveiled a plan to utilize its 385.82ha land on Willingdon Island for setting up various projects.
In addition to the 40.9ha of land it had identified here for port side operations, CPT plans to set up a logistics park, a ship repair yard and a Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) in another 104.07ha here.
The proposed land redevelopment projects will require CPT to free land presently leased out to tenants involved in port-related activities.
The proposed logistics park is to come up at 44.8ha north of Willingdon Island adjacent to the coal stack yard and close to the Port Users' Complex. A portion of the park may be allotted for storing coal and timber depending on the future traffic to the port. Functionally, the area identified for Port Users' Complex will also be part of the logistics park.
The 10.12ha of land west to Port Users' Complex will be used for Container Freight Services (CFS) operations.
As per the proposal, the Port Users' Complex will accommodate offices of shipping agents, banks, stevedores, shipping lines and other maritime-related services.
The ship repair yard will come up in the 18ha to the east of Mattancherry channel. It will house a dry dock, container repair yard and supply base for commercial ships. These facilities will be in addition to the existing dry dock, which will continue to remain operational. It will include the departmental ship repair facility, the land surrendered by the FCI and the existing timber yard. It is also proposed to enlarge the repair jetty here to a length of 185 meter from the current 86 meters. A FTWZ will come up at southern end of the Island. It is envisaged to provide separate spaces for sea food, cashew, tea and general warehousing, empty container yard, open storage, roads and green areas. The authorities have identified 41.27ha of land for the purpose.
There is also a plan to develop a business district and hospitality node in areas (22.38ha) beyond the bridges that connect the main land to the Island. As this land cannot be used for primary port activities, it is proposed to set up five star hotels, convention centres, commercial complexes, open shopping area and public spaces in the CRZ belt.
