Adani’s tender for Vizhinjam project gets approval

Kochi: The State’s dream project of multi-crore rupee Vizhinjam International Deep water Seaport project has moved a step forward with the Vizhinjam Seaport International Ltd (VSIL) board giving its nod to the tender submitted by Adani Ports for the development of the port.

The Board is chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Ports Minister K Babu, while talking to the media after a meeting of the Board directors, said that the decision taken in the meeting would be conveyed to the State Cabinet.

The project now needs to get the Cabinet’s approval.

Earlier, the Empowered Committee Presided by Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson had recommended to accept the tender submitted by Adani.

Only Adani Ports bidded for the project when the last date for submitting the tender for bidding ended on April 25.

The project conceived decades ago delayed due to various reasons and it got fresh leaf after the UDF came to power in 2011.

The project had faced hurdles recently with no company submitting final bid for taking up the contract for its construction and operation when last date for bidding ended in February last, even though five companies expressed interest for the project.

Following this, VSP, the Special Purpose Vehicle set up to implement the project, extended the time for submission of tender.

Chief Minister had held a pre-bid meeting with prospective companies, including the Adani Ports.

The contract is for building port superstructure, estimated to cost of Rs 6,000 crore and operate the port for a period of 40 years.