Kerala's Second Major Shipyard to Be Built at Ponnani Port Under PPP Model

A large shipbuilding facility will soon be established at Ponnani port, providing a significant boost to development in the Malabar region, officials announced on Sunday. The tender process for the proposed shipyard, to be developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, has been completed, they confirmed, according to news agency PTI.

The shipyard will be established on approximately 29 acres of coastal land on the western side of the Ponnani Fishing Harbour under the Kerala Maritime Board, making it the second shipyard in the state after Kochi, according to a statement.

The agreement with the private partner is expected to be signed within two weeks.

A shipbuilding-related training institute will also be established, and cargo-handling operations are planned to commence soon after the shipyard becomes operational, the statement said.

In the first phase, the facility will focus on constructing small vessels. A wharf will be built adjoining the breakwater at the estuary for this purpose. An investment of around ₹200 crore is anticipated in this phase.

In the second phase, large vessels will be constructed, with an estimated investment of about ₹1,000 crore over the next seven to 10 years. The project aims to develop Ponnani into the largest shipbuilding facility in the state after Kochi, the statement said.

The shipyard is expected to generate employment for around 1,000 people, officials added.

Meanwhile, it has been decided to provide alternative facilities on the eastern side of the harbour for fish-drying units currently operating at the site identified for the shipyard. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the district collector.

P Nandakumar, MLA, said the project would provide a major boost to the development of Ponnani and called for local cooperation to ensure its smooth implementation, it further said.