The Hindu : Kerala News : Vizhinjam port: fresh notification likely

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 02, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Vizhinjam port: fresh notification likely

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 1. The Minister for Ports, M.V. Raghavan, has said the Government might go in for a fresh notification to gather `request for proposals' from companies interested in taking up the Vizhinjam port project.

At a press conference here today, he said six companies had bought the `request for proposal' document from the Government subsequent to the notification issued earlier. But, none of them submitted the proposal till December 20, 2004, the notified last date for receiving the proposals.

He said the companies that had bought the document had uncertainties over two issues. Firstly, they wanted all the requisite clearances for the project to be obtained for them by the Vizhinjam International Port Limited, the facilitating agency set up by the Government for this project. They want a firm assurance from the Government on this point.

Secondly, they feel that the container transhipment targets fixed by the Government are rather on the higher side. They are not sure whether the set targets can be achieved at Vizhinjam within the time span specified in the earlier notification.

Optimistic

Mr. Raghavan said he would soon call the companies for a discussion to thrash out the issues raised by them. He said he was optimistic about the result.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Port also has evinced interest in taking up the Vizhinjam project. The Government proposes to issue the fresh notification calling for `request for proposals' so that companies that have newly come into the picture too can be accommodated in the bid process, Mr. Raghavan said.

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