The last date for submitting bids for the development of Azhikkal port in North Kerala has been extended.

According to the original decision, the last date was fixed as March 30, 2012. But this has now been extended to May 15 as more prospective investors have expressed interest in the project, according to sources in the Ports Department. The port, which figures prominently in the coastal shipping plan of the State Government, is proposed to be developed through public-private partnership (PPP) route on a design, build, operate and transfer (DBOT) basis. The concession period will be 30 years.

Two modules

The port development project, which has been hanging fire for more than a decade, is now envisaged to be developed in two modules: the setting up of a multi-purpose terminal for handling general cargo and a separate terminal for cement products and related cargo. The total cost of the project is projected at Rs 150 crore.

In all, 85 acres of land has been earmarked for the river-based project. Of this, 65 acres will be made available for the multi-purpose terminal and 20 acres for the cement terminal. Meanwhile, the pre-bid meeting held a couple of weeks ago saw the participation of a few interested investors in the project. They included Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, ABG Cements Ltd, LOTS Shipping Ltd, Falcon Infrastructures, Kakinada Seaports Ltd and International Seaports Ltd, the sources said.

INKEL Ltd, the infrastructure development agency floated by the State Government with private equity participation, also attended the meeting. INKEL is already involved in the development of Beypore port in Kozhikode.

Apart from port development, there is a proposal for setting up a ship-repairing facility near the port and a team from Cochin Shipyard had visited the site some time ago to examine the feasibility of the project.

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