<p data-path-to-node="2"><b data-path-to-node="2" data-index-in-node="0">KOLLAM</b> — In a concerted push to strengthen coastal shipping and enhance regional port capabilities, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has officially sanctioned a ₹7 crore development grant for Kollam Port in Kerala.</p><p data-path-to-node="3">The state-backed financial allocation will be deployed toward upgrading quayside infrastructure, dredging approach channels, and constructing a dedicated multi-purpose berth and wharf. The modernization project is specifically tailored to accommodate coastal cargo vessels and small-to-medium container feeders, providing southern Kerala with an alternative logistics outlet to relieve congested highway corridors.</p><h4 data-path-to-node="4"><b>Revitalizing Coastal Shipping and Regional Trade</b></h4><p data-path-to-node="5">Kollam Port, historically recognized for its maritime trade legacy, is being re-engineered under national coastal development policies to function as an active hub for mineral sand, raw industrial materials, and regional agricultural commodities.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">Port infrastructure planners noted that the newly funded multi-purpose berth will incorporate automated handling equipment and improved storage yards, allowing local exporters and manufacturers to move goods via cost-effective coastal shipping routes directly connecting major domestic and international transshipment terminals.</p><p data-path-to-node="7">"This financial injection marks a critical step in bringing Kollam Port up to modern operational standards," stated a senior maritime development official. "By building reliable berth capacity and streamlining cargo evacuation, we are lowering logistics costs for industries across Kerala and actively advancing national targets toward sustainable blue-economy growth."</p>