India’s Largest Dry Dock Takes Shape: Foundation Stone Laid At Cochin Shipyard By Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister for shipping, road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari has laid the foundation for India’s largest dry dock at the Cochin Shipyard, Deccan Chronicle has reported.

The minister said that Rs 1,799 crore dry dock project is expected to increase the country’s share in global shipbuilding to two per cent. The present share of the country in global shipbuilding industry is 0.66 per cent, he said.

Gadkari also ruled out the possibility that the Cochin shipyard can be privatised.

“The profit-making Cochin Shipyard will not be privatised. We will never allow a private person to take this because the Cochin Shipyard is in good profit,” he said.

The 310 m long, 75 m wide and 13 m deep drydock will have a drought of 9.5 m and will be designed in such a way that it can handle repairs as well as shipbuilding. The dock can handle a load of up to 600 T/m with International safety standards and will have green belt development and water treatment plant.

Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan was also present on the occasion and said the project would help in growth of both country and Kerala. He also said that the government’s is emphasising on development of inland water transport and water based tourism projects.