The Hindu Business Line : Poll grounds port projects

Prominent among them is the Rs 4,230-crore Vizhnijam international container transhipment terminal. The State Cabinet had on January 18 cleared the techno-economic bid submitted by a consortium of Indian and Chinese companies for taking up the first phase of the project.

The consortium consists of Mumbai-based Zoom Developers and two Chinese companies - Kaidi Electric Power Company and China Harbour Engineering Company. The State Government had also approached the Union Government for security clearance for the project in view of the involvement of the Chinese companies.

According to Ports Department officials, even if the project obtains Central clearance, further steps towards implementation would have to wait until after the elections. The State Government was hoping to get the Prime Minister to lay the foundation stone for the project some time in the middle of this month.

Similarly, Azhikkal port development project will also have to bide time till the elections are over. The Ports Department was gearing up to invite expressions of interest for developing the port in modules and a committee, chaired by the Secretary (Ports), had been formed to work out the details of the modules.

The Sharjah-based Universal Lubricants has already submitted a proposal for constructing a jetty near the mouth of the port for handling petroleum, oil and lubricants. The port is envisaged to be developed in seven modules to handle general as well as special cargo movements. A ship-repairing yard also features in the modular development plan.

In the case of Beypore port, the department is in the process of examining the techno-economic proposal submitted by Kozhikode-based Parisons group.

The group had prepared the proposal in association with PricewaterhouseCoopers and the department had roped in IL&FS for preparing the concession agreement. One of the suggestions under consideration is the formation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with the equity participation of the Government for implementing the project.

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