The Hindu Business Line : Azhikkal port going in for fresh tender

This follows the failure of Universal Lubricants, Sharjah, the only company that was actively pursuing the project, to send their technical team for detailed talks with the department.

The Sharjah company became the lone contender for the project after Antara Koh of Singapore, which had also expressed interest in the port, withdrew from the scene. The department has now decided to go in for a fresh tender as there has been no response from Universal Lubricants even after a long wait, according to officials in the department.

Meanwhile, the project profile itself is being reworked to bring down costs. The work is entrusted with ICICI-Kinfra, which structured the original project.

The project in its earlier form envisaged construction of berths capable of handling general cargo as well as containers. The wharves to be built were to have the capacity to handle ships of up to 50,000 dwt. The other facilities planned included a dry dock, ship-repairing yard, container yard, warehouse and an oil jetty.

But, there had been a rethinking on the viability of such an ambitious project, the extent of land required and the huge cost involved. The latest plan is to implement the project in modular pattern with the participation of one or more promoters, the officials said.

On Vizhinjam international container transhipment terminal, for which the department has floated a fresh tender, the officials said that the Government had a meeting with the earlier bidders on January 27 to consider their demands for changes in the original project structure.

It may be recalled that these investors had stayed away from submitting their techno-economic bids, for which the last date was December 20 last year. They had later stated that some of the clauses in the request for proposal (RFP) were detrimental to their interests.

The changes acceptable to the department will be incorporated in the RFP, which will also be given to the new bidders, said the officials.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
SEBI clears Jet Airways IPO

Malaysia Airlines plans flights from Tiruchi, Amritsar

Essar takes Fredriksen's hand for Petronet LNG deal

Gati launches Chennai to Yangoon service

Dedicated freight corridor on JNPT-Tughlakhabad sector mooted

Azhikkal port going in for fresh tender

Four Soft bags Dutch co order

Rlys allots Rs 15 cr for upkeep of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus