The Hindu Business Line : Vizhinjam port bidding date extended again

THE last date for submitting bids by prospective investors for development of the proposed international container transhipment terminal at Vizhinjam near here has been extended to August 17.

The Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), the company formed by the State Government for the implementation of the project, had fixed July 30 as the last date for receiving the bids. But the date has been extended due to some unexpected developments, Dr Jayakumar, Chief Executive Officer of VISL, said.

According to him, the heavy rains in Mumbai and the consequent disruption in banking operations made it difficult for some of the interested companies to comply with the last date stipulation. They sought at least two more weeks' time to submit the bids and the Government agreed to it.

The last date was initially fixed as June 8 and this had to be extended by another seven weeks to July 30 at the request of some of the investors. They wanted more time to assess the project on the ground that it was a greenfield venture and involved the complex dynamics of international container transhipment business.

Dr Jayakumar said that as many as 23 companies had so far bought the request for proposal (RFP) documents for participating in the bid. These include a dozen overseas companies and the latest to join the fray is London-based Ocean Bulk Carriers.

Some of the overseas companies that have bought RFP are Beckett Rankine, London; Marubeni of Japan; Giss-Eta of the US; First Wallstreet Group and Consortium, New York; and Ital-Thai Development Company, Bangkok.

The Indian companies in the list include Gammon India; Afcon Infrastructure, Mumbai; L&T ECC; Sical Logistics: IL&FS and Hili Company; and Essar Shipping.

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