THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A major setback for state’s dream Vizhinjam Harbour project. Three companies who submitted applications to partake in the tender withdrew from it at the last minute. Three companies-Adani Ports, Essar Ports and a consortium of SREI and OHL accepted the applications for tender, but none of them submitted it. One more month has been permitted to submit the tenders. The time allotted for submitting the tender was till 11 am today.
Meantime, Minister K Babu in charge of the harbour department has expressed shock as there were no bidders. He said they will examine whether any sabotage has taken place.
The tender for the construction work by the government and the tender for the supervision of the harbour were jointly invited. The government will construct the tetra pods and the fishing harbour. A private company will be in charge of the operation of the harbour and the expense estimated is Rs 4089 crores. 40% of it will get union government’s viability gap funding. Contractors will get the amount.
Technical consultant Ernst & Young and legal consultant Hemant Sahay Associates will assess the project’s tenders. The high powered panel led by chief secretary will take a decision and it will be presented before the cabinet. A final decision in handing over the project to contractors will be taken by the cabinet.
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