Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the Union government will never go back on the clearance given to the Colachel port in Kanyakumari district, dismissing Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s apprehensions that it would affect the near-by Vizhinjam port in the neighbouring state.

During a meeting with Mr Vijayan in New Delhi, Mr Modi said the ports which are located within a distance of just 30 km will only increase economic activity in the region and that there was no need for the state of Kerala to oppose the project just because it is located very close.

“We said there was no need for two ports at a distance of just 30 km. But, the Prime Minister said there was no going back on Colachel port. He said the competition would help both states,” Mr Vijayan told a press conference after the meeting.

The Chief Minister said Mr Modi assured all possible help, including financial assistance, to improve Vizhinjam project and that the new port at Colachel would not affect Vizhinjam port.

Kerala has been expressing concern over the decision to allow a new port in Colachel saying it would adversely affect Vizhinjam port, the construction work of which has already begun here.

Colachel port is hardly 30 km from Vizhinjam and the objective of the Colachel port is to attract large ships that now dock either in Colombo or Singapore.

However, the Union government has been justified the major port project at Enayam near Colachel in Kanyakumari district saying it will give impetus to industrial development in entire Kanyakumari district besides contributing to India’s shipping industry.