KOCHI: The cruise vessel reception facility being set up at Cochin Port Trust will be ready for operation by next month. “Around 70 per cent of the work on the facility has been completed and it is expected to be opened in June. Tourists who will visit in the next season will be able to disembark at the new facility,” said the port authorities.Earlier, Cochin Port Trust had formulated a mega project to construct a cruise terminal-cum-tourist plaza. However, considering the huge cost involved, the port management later decided to revamp the existing facility near BTP berth to convert it into a cruise terminal. The facility was constructed three years ago in connection with the India stop over of the Volvo Ocean Race at the Cochin port.The 1,500-sq ft space of the available 3,600 sq ft will be developed for the passenger facilities in the first phase. The remaining space would be allotted to private parties for business purposes. The terminal is being developed jointly by the Union Ministry of Tourism and the Department of Tourism, Kerala.The Union Government has allotted an amount of Rs 7 crore for the project. Earlier, a feasibility report and business plan for the proposed cruise terminal project were finalised in March 2008 and a transaction adviser was appointed in June 2008. The 375-crore terminal would have an exclusive berth with a quay length of 220 metre, with an available draft of 10 metre. A replica of a traditional Kerala village, shopping mall-cum-office tower and a luxury hotel were the other features which were to be included to the world-class vessel reception facility. The passenger capacity was expected to be 3,50,000 per annum.By hosting 43 cruise ships between April 2007 and March 2008, the Cochin port had set a new record in handling the largest number of such ships in a year in the country, pushing Mumbai and Goa far behind. There has been a steady growth in the number of cruise vessels calling here. In 2002-03, the port received 11 cruise ships, followed by 18 during 2003-04. The number rose to 19 during 2004-05 and 22 during 2005-06. In 2006-07, 38 cruise ships arrived at the port. Nearly 50 cruise vessels called at the Cochin port during the last fiscal.
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