Govt acquires land for Vallarpadam project

According to sources at the Cochin Port Trust (CPT), this would enable the project to be commissioned by the end of 2009, though there would be a delay of around six months from the original schedule. According to the agreement between CPT and DP World, contractor of the largest infrastructure project in Kerala, the project should be commissioned in April, 2009.

The Ernakulam district administration has acquired 4.3 hectares in four villages for the railway line connecting the terminal with Edappally railway station. The proposed railway line will be 9.3-km long.

According to M Beena, district collector, 144 families were evacuated for the proposed railway line. For the national highway connecting the terminal and with Kalamassery, a nearby town, 43.75 hectares in seven villages have been acquired, evacuating 183 families.

The Centre will meet the complete expense for the railway and road connectivity and sufficient fund had already been allotted.

The district administration will provide land and adequate compensation to the families, who had been evacuated according to the directions of the Kerala high court.

Various communal organisations had been agitating against the evacuation. According to the agreement between the CPT and DP World rail, road connectivity should be ensured before the commissioning of the terminal. If not, CPT will have to pay compensation to DP World, a Dubai-based global major in port development.