WITH the Kerala government now focusing on the Landlord Port Model (LPM), the Rs 9,000-crore Vizhinjam International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) is finally beginning to find its feet on the infrastructure front after hanging fire for a decade.
Proposed as one of the world's deepest ports with a natural depth of 24 metres, the Vizhinjam port looks likely at the moment to emerge as a force to reckon with in the global maritime trade.
Under the LPM, the basic infrastructure will be set up through an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract. The technical bids submitted by a consortium of several companies will be scrutinised within 10 days for responsiveness and compliance with the qualifications. On completion of the technical evaluation, the Vizhinjam ICTT will go ahead with the financial bids.
The LPM puts a great deal of responsibility on the operator, by including the breakwater, quay wall, dredging and reclamation, and external connectivity (road, rail and utilities) in the infrastructure development of the project. The private partner would develop the massive structure for the port operations and the terminal, and would be allowed to operate and maintain the facility for 30 years.
Throwing light on the development, Mr K. Babu, Kerala Port Minister, apprised that the details of this plan were yet to be decided. He added that the private partner’s inputs would be considered while making the master plan and detailing the EPC construction.
To be set up at Vizhinjam, near Thiruvananthapuram, with a quay length of 2,000 metres in three phases, the deepsea port will be designed to cater primarily to container transhipment, besides multi-purpose and break-bulk cargo. In addition to minimising dredging expenses because of its natural draught, the port also has the advantage of being located close to busy global shipping routes. It is learnt that the facility is envisaged to handle 4.1 million containers annually in the initial phase.
Proposed as one of the world's deepest ports with a natural depth of 24 metres, the Vizhinjam port looks likely at the moment to emerge as a force to reckon with in the global maritime trade.
Under the LPM, the basic infrastructure will be set up through an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract. The technical bids submitted by a consortium of several companies will be scrutinised within 10 days for responsiveness and compliance with the qualifications. On completion of the technical evaluation, the Vizhinjam ICTT will go ahead with the financial bids.
The LPM puts a great deal of responsibility on the operator, by including the breakwater, quay wall, dredging and reclamation, and external connectivity (road, rail and utilities) in the infrastructure development of the project. The private partner would develop the massive structure for the port operations and the terminal, and would be allowed to operate and maintain the facility for 30 years.
Throwing light on the development, Mr K. Babu, Kerala Port Minister, apprised that the details of this plan were yet to be decided. He added that the private partner’s inputs would be considered while making the master plan and detailing the EPC construction.
To be set up at Vizhinjam, near Thiruvananthapuram, with a quay length of 2,000 metres in three phases, the deepsea port will be designed to cater primarily to container transhipment, besides multi-purpose and break-bulk cargo. In addition to minimising dredging expenses because of its natural draught, the port also has the advantage of being located close to busy global shipping routes. It is learnt that the facility is envisaged to handle 4.1 million containers annually in the initial phase.
Source : Exim News Service - Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 5
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