By 2015, the Kerala government has chalked out an action plan to shift 20 per cent of road cargo movement to coastal shipping. The State government would expand 6 minor ports to enhance coastal shipping services in the first phase. The government said that seven per cent of the total cargo movement is through coastal shipping.
The six ports include Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kodungalloor in Thrissur district, Beypore in Kozhikode district and Azheekal in Kasargode district, Minister for Shipping and Ports K Babu has said.
Through four ports - Vizhinjam, Kollam Beypore and Azheekal, coastal cargo movement is being carried out presently. The government will soon prepare a detailed plan for renovation and modernisation of these six ports to berth large ships.