We want to encourage new investment in port development through a partnership between the public and private sectors. We welcome all forms of investment, public and private, in our ports. Over the next few years, we expect to see a major transformation of all our ports, large and small, for shipping or fishing.
Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP) was first of all planned by a British commander, AD Taylor in 1860. After independence, the project proposal was submitted by a businessmen, Ramaswamy Mudalliar. On the other hand, the Indian Government has always had the vision to make its ports and seaways world-class, although the efforts in this area are minimal and time taking. The inauguration of Sethusamudram Project is one of those efforts. Today, when India has 14 major ports and many small ports and the business is catching up, the business through ports and seaways is the hot topic. In February 2005, Vallarpadam Container Terminal Project was inaugurated and the SSCP was inaugurated on July 2, 2005. However, this is not a single day effort but an integrated and a series of Central Government efforts since 1955.
The dimensions given here show how big the project will be. The objective of this project is to join the Gulf of Mannar and the Bay of Bengal. It will be connected through the Palk Bay by dredging of a ship channel in a width of 300 meters in two way channel. The dredging area network will cover a length of 75 km. The Dredging Corporation of India has been awarded the contract for dredging work, which will commence from November 2005 and the operation will start in the beginning of year 2008-09. It is expected that it will bring a sea change in the economic development of Tamil Nadu. It will also save the navigation time after completion of the project, as most of the ships have to pass through Sri Lanka today. The navigation after completion of the project will originate from Tuticorin which will enter Bay of Bengal directly from the Gulf of Mannar.
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