KOCHI: Under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the Cochin Shipyard Ltd(CSL) will construct a 1,200-capacity passenger vessel for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, its first foray in the big passenger vessel segment.
Even though the final call on the design and facilities is yet to be finalised, such a vessel will cost around Rs 400-500 cr a piece. The details of the passenger vessel project being given to CSLwere disclosed by the Union ministry of shipping in its recent update about the shipping industry in India.Building such a vessel is one of the major projects to be awarded to CSL under ‘Make in India.’ The others include building of LNG ships and dredgers. A final decision on these is yet to be taken. In 2000, CSL built two 150-capacity passenger vessels for the Lakshadweep administration at a cost of Rs 12.75 crore.
“A final decision about the design, facilities and cost of the passenger vessel is yet to taken.
It is learnt that the Shipping Ministry is in talks with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration to give a final touch to the deal.
Earlier, the ministry wanted to make these vessels abroad. But later it was decided to build such vessels in the country under ‘Make in India.’ We have already expressed our willingness to take up the project,” said CSL CMD Commodore K Subramaniam.
