Waves of hope lash the coasts of Ponnani as Kerala Budget pushes for much-anticipated port!

Ponnani: The long-awaited port development project in Ponnani has once again found a place in the state budget, bringing fresh hope to the region. For the third consecutive year, the Ponnani port project has been included in the budget, fuelling optimism along the coast. A total of ₹65 crore has been earmarked in this year's budget for the development of non-major ports, including Ponnani, as well as other ports such as Azhikkal, Beypore, Kollam, Vizhinjam, Alappuzha, Kodungallur, Thalassery, Valiyathura, Vadakara, Kannur, and Kasaragod. This allocation is ₹19.80 crore higher than the previous year’s share.

Last year, Ponnani port was considered alongside Azhikkal, Beypore, Kollam, and Alappuzha for development. This year, Ponnani has been included in the collective group of non-major ports slated for improvement. ₹39.20 crore was allocated in the last budget to enhance infrastructure with a focus on cargo movement, transportation, and tourism development.

Efforts to develop Ponnani port are progressing with plans to implement the project with private sector participation. The focus is on building a ship terminal and managing operations by assigning the task to a private company, taking into account both cargo transportation and tourism potential. A detailed project report (DPR) for the financially viable plan has already been prepared, and once interest is solicited through an investment meet, the tender process will commence. With the project once again receiving attention in this year’s budget, there is renewed hope that the port development will become a reality.