Singh launches Vallarpadom terminal

Kerala's long-standing dream to build a world-class container terminal at Vallarpadom is being realised, officials said.

Dr Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister, laid the foundation stone for the new terminal yesterday. The container terminal will help Kochi regain its past glory as the "Queen of the Arabian Sea", Dr. Singh said.

Kerala must become a model of infrastructure development to other parts of the country, he said.

The new terminal is being developed on a build-operate-transfer basis by Dubai Ports International and is expected to be completed within four years, officials said.

The first stage of the Vallarpadom terminal is expected to cost Rs20 billion (Dh1.67 billion), officials said. A state-of-the-art port was a key component of any comprehensive plan for economic development, said Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, executive chairman of Dubai Ports International.

The terminal will act as a gateway to the region, Bin Sulayem said. He took part in the launch ceremony for the container terminal. The terminal was the centre-piece of a series of port-related projects being prepared that will elevate Kochi and Kerala to a new stage of development, said Dr. Singh.

The prime minister also inaugurated the second phase of the National Thermal Power Corporation's power plant at Kayamkulam.

On completion of the second phase, the power plant's capacity will be raised from its current 350 megawatts to 2,300 megawatts.

The prime minister also announced plans to establish a Rs70 billion (Dh5.8 billion) cracker complex. geared to producing ethylene, propylene and other products, in the state.

The Government will help Kerala as it grapples with the economic changes created by globalisation, he said.

Investments worth Rs 200 billion (Dh16.7 billion) are in various stages of finalisation for Kerala, the prime minister said on Tuesday.

The expansion of the power plant in Kayamkulam is to be carried out at an estimated cost of Rs70 billion (Dh5.8 billion), officials said.