From: Dr.Manoj.K.S.
manojks16@yahoo.com
Respected Senior colleagues, Dear Friends
This is to inform you regarding the establishment of a group in the name of Vizhijamproject . The group was formed to organize a mass movement for the establishment of an International Transshipment Hub ( Mother Port) at Vizhinjam .The progenitor of the current movement is Mr.Elias John of the "Aniyara" fame. The core facts of the project depends on few facts which were brought out in public light recently .(Established through study by L&T Ramboll commissioned by government of Kerala)
1.The Arabian sea near vizhinjam posses an amazing natural depth of 16 to 24 metres .while it is 16m near the coast it reaches 24 m or more at 3miles from land .No where else in India any harbour boasts such natural depths.
2.Vizhinjam is a natural harbour free from any rivers or lakes discharging sediments into the sea bed ,so that only minimum dredging is needed here.
3.It has the least tidal variation compared to any other port in India.
4.The international Shipping channel passes within 3 nautical miles of Vizhinjam.
Now India does not have a "Mother Port" a port that has enough depth to accomodate the giant ocean liners or Mother ships that carry the bulk of worlds cargo.At present Indias cargo is handled at Colombo (70%) ,Singapore and Dubai.The transshipmet increases the cost of our imports. Vizhinjam has all the natural atributes to become the Transshipment Hub for India.ie,in short a Gateway for India ,which will in turn boost the economy of Kerala and India. It can accommodate even the largest ships in the world and believe me even the ones planned for the next decade ! The world trade is at present carried through Container Ships .India had a cargo load of 39lac containers in 2003-2004.The planing commision has stated that India loses more than 1000 crores every year just because we dont have a mother port .We pay nearly 150$ for every container handled at these ports .
The projected traffic for India is 1 crore containers in 5 years.Even if 25% comes to Vizhinjam it will be more than 1600 crores just as port handling fee alone .The total monetary transations per container comes to about 12000$.The staggering amount of money can be imagined . Those who have seen the world (like you people ) may be knowing how much a Port contributes to the economy .In Dubai,Singapore ,Colombo large percent of net revenue comes through the ports.And for India that is poised to make that big leap into the world scenario a Mother Post is must.
The Govt of Kerala has already declared its intention to form a company in the model of Nedumbassery airport with equity participation of public especially the NRK's . Yet why the delay in implementing this wonderful project ?
I urge you all to come forward and join this grand effort .More people should become aware about the infinite possibilities it is going to deliver to this land. Imagine one day Kerala will look like Dubai or Singapore !!!
I have uploaded many files in the vizhinjamproject groups,which will give a comprehensive idea of the project.
Regs
Dr.Manoj.K.S.
