A tender process to select the Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) bidder for the proposed Vizhinjam international seaport and deep-sea container transhipment terminal would begin next month.

Announcing this in the State Assembly, the Kerala Ports Minister, Mr K. Babu, said on Wednesday the State Government has charted out a time-bound action plan to complete the over Rs 5,000-crore project.

EPC BIDDING

The project, which had reached the Request-for-Qualification stage at the end of the third global tendering process early this year, is now expected to become operational by 2015, Mr Babu informed the House.

Giving details, the Minister said the tender process to select the EPC bidder would begin next month.

The State Government has short-listed 12 of the 16 companies that had bid for the EPC contract, he said.

An EPC consultant has been appointed, the Minister said, adding that the tender process would be completed in August and the contract awarded in November.

The project is proposed to be implemented under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and its master plan would be ready by October this year.

EIA STUDY

Work on the terminal, breakwater and reclamation was expected to start after completing the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study in March next year, he said.

Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), a special purpose vehicle set up by the State Government to implement the project, would bring in a professional team to execute the works.

The plan was to complete the project in three phases. The first phase would see the State Government develop port infrastructure.

Funds for the project are sought to be mobilised through loans and issue of bounds.

A consortium of banks led by State Bank of Travancore had been mandated the task.

OPTIMAl MIX

The estimated cost of setting up infrastructure such as power, roads and rail connectivity, drinking water and other facilities was estimated to be above Rs 1,657 crore. Land acquisition would alone add up to Rs 794 crore.

The original tender document says the international seaport will cater to an optimal mix of container, bulk/general cargo and cruise traffic. Vizhinjam is a natural deep-water harbour and is positioned within 10 nautical miles of the East-West international shipping route.

The long-term annual traffic potential is estimated to be at least 2.4 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) and 1.8 million tonnes of bulk and general cargo.

International Finance Corporation is the lead transaction adviser for designing and implementing the project.

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