Ponnani Port is set to get a 29-acre shipyard on the western side of the Ponnani Fishing Harbour, the second shipyard after Kochi, under a public-private partnership model. The shipyard will come under the jurisdiction of the Kerala Maritime Board.
The tender process has been completed, with contract signing scheduled for the next two weeks. In addition to the shipyard, a training institute for shipbuilding will also be established as part of the project.
Local MLA Shri P. Nandakumar said the project would mark a major leap in Ponnani’s development and called for strong local support.
“In the first phase, a system to build small ships will be set up at a cost of Rs 200 crore. In the second phase, a large shipyard with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore is being planned. With the implementation of this project, the face of Malabar will change,” he said.
The shipyard will be operational in phases. The first phase will focus on the construction of a small vessel with a wharf built at the estuary near the old Jankar jetty near the breakwater. While the second phase will focus on the construction of large vessels.