MPA only accredited green port in India
NT Reporter Mumbai Giving a lift to the state, it was announced at the India Maritime Week 2025 that Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) is the only accredited green port in India. The green accreditation, which is for the operational areas of the port, is valid until June 2028. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who attended the []
Dr Jose Paul, former chairman of Mormugao Port Trust and the original conceptualiser of the Fort Kochi-Vypeen underwater tunnel back in 2015, sheds light on the project after the Kerala Rail Development Corporation invited an expression of interest for the project recently. Excerpts Is the proposed underwater tunnel the first such infrastructure in India? The tunnel connecting Fort Kochi with Vypeen island will be the first undersea tunnel under a deep shipping channel in the country. It will be around 2.5 to 3 kilometres long, passing 35 metres below the seabed. While its a first for a deep shipping channel, India already has two other underwater tunnels: 1) Kolkatas underwater metro rail, which is part of the East-West corridor, crosses under the Hooghly river. Inaugurated in March 2024, the 520-metre tunnel passes 13 metres below the riverbed, linking Howrah and Kolkata; 2) Mumbais twin undersea tunnel, which passes under the Arabian Sea and Malabar Hill, connects Marine Drive to Worli, greatly cutting travel time. The one-km stretch passes 17-20 metres under the Arabian Sea, making them Indias first undersea tunnels. Why is the underwater tunnel crucial for the states development? The tunnel is vital to complete the state governments planned Coastal Highway, a 656-km road from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. When this highway reaches Fort Kochi, it cannot cross over to Vypeen due to the deep shipping channel. With a bridge already under construction at the northern end (Munambam to Azhikode) of the stretch, the shipping channel remains the only unbridged area. Schematic longitudinal profile of the Fort Kochi-Vypeen underwater tunnel A permanent, fixed undersea link will ensure seamless transportation along the coastal highway, providing a crucial alternative to the under-construction NH 66. Additionally, it will give a significant boost to tourism across the entire 25-km Vypeen island, enhancing the local populations prosperity. This new link is also expected to substantially reduce severe traffic bottlenecks in Kochi city. What is the main engineering challenge, and how will construction affect marine traffic? The main engineering challenge is constructing the tunnel 35 metres below the seabed, beneath a shipping channel. While the current channel allows ships with a 14.5-metre draught (with proposals to deepen it to 16 metres), the tunnel will run safely at a much deeper level of 35 metres from the seabed. It will not affect marine traffic or normal shipping activity. How long will it take to build such a tunnel? Experts estimate the tunnel work to take around 2.5 to 3 years. Advanced boring techniques available in India, as a similar tunnel was recently constructed in Mumbai, will be used. Tunnel boring will start on land from either side of the road, gradually going below the seabed. The process will ensure there is no disruption to ship movement, fishing, or other maritime activities. Is there any rise in the project cost since it was first mooted a decade ago? Yes. The initial estimated cost was Rs 1,500 crore. The feasibility report prepared by K-Rail now puts the project cost at Rs 2,672 crore. Given its financial constraints, the Kerala government has decided to execute the project under the design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) model, ensuring that the investment will be borne by the contracting agency.
Gujarat becomes first State to join Cruise Bharat Mission, eyes coastal tourism boom
AHMEDABAD: Striding towards maritime tourism dominance, Gujarat has become the first state in India to officially align with the ambitious Cruise Bharat Mission. This strategic move marks a critical milestone in the nations quest to build a globally competitive cruise tourism ecosystem, positioning Gujarat at the forefront of India's coastal transformation. In a bold leap toward maritime tourism leadership, Gujarat has become the first state in India to formally align with the Centres ambitious Cruise Bharat Mission. Backed by its vast 2,340 km coastline and navigable Rivers like the Sabarmati and Narmada, Gujarat is now charting a new course to transform itself into a global cruise tourism hotspot. Despite having the longest coastline in the country, Gujarat has so far lacked a dedicated cruise terminal, unlike ports in Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai, and Mormugao, which have already advanced cruise infrastructure. But with its formal alignment under the Cruise Bharat Mission, the state is now racing to bridge that critical gap. Launched by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on September 30, 2024, the Cruise Bharat Mission aims to catapult India into the league of top cruise tourism nations, with a tenfold increase in sea cruise traffic targeted by 2029. In line with this vision, Gujarat has rolled out an ambitious plan proposing multiple cruise circuits along its western coast. These circuits are anchored around major destinations such as Diu, Veraval, Porbandar, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Okha, and the scenic Padala Island alongside the already operational Ghogha Hazira Ro-Pax route. To streamline the cruise experience, the state has divided its coastal routes into three strategic clusters: Padala IslandRann of Kutch PorbandarVeravalDiu DwarkaOkhaJamnagar Each cluster is carefully designed to connect religious, cultural, and natural attractions within a 100 kilometre radius making shore excursions swift, scenic, and tourism friendly. With this strategic alignment, Gujarat not only sets a precedent for other coastal states but also stakes its claim as a frontrunner in India's cruise tourism revolution.
