Babu Rajeev is Vizhinjam Sea Port MD
Thiruvananthapuram, July 6: The Kerala Government today appointed Mr C Babu Rajeev as the Managing Director of the Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd.
Briefing newspersons here after a meeting of the state Cabinet, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said the senior official earlier held the posts of chairman of the Kochi Port Trust and Managing Director of the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL).
The Kerala government was according utmost priority to the implementation of the project which has a huge potential to boost the economy of the state.The project structured in public-private partnership (PPP) format is envisaged in three phases. The estimated cost of the Phase I development is Rs. 1,850 crore and that for the whole project Rs 4,360 crore.
The company was set up mainly to provide external support infrastructure like road- rail connectivity, water and power supply to the port, facilitating the establishment of port-based special economic zone and free trade warehousing zones apart from overseeing the implementation of the port project by the private developer.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Tender process for Vizhinjam port to be completed soon
Tender process for Vizhinjam port to be completed soon
Staff Reporter
First phase of the project to be completed within three years
Security clearance hinders projectGovernment to take up projects under public-private partnership
Thiruvananthapuram: The tender process for the Vizhinjam international container transhipment terminal will be completed this year and the first phase of the project within three years, Minister for Ports M. Vijayakumar has said.
Replying to questions in the Assembly on Friday, the Minister said 43 companies, including 12 foreign firms, had participated in the investors meet held in the capital city in April.
A company, sponsored by the Russian Government, had evinced interest in the project, he said.
Mr. Vijayakumar said the security clearance was the main hurdle in the implementation of the project.
The State Government had been advised to consider national interest and internal security while evaluating the tenders.
Rail India Technical and Economic Services Limited (RITES) had been entrusted with the feasibility study on the rail and road connectivity to the port. The Rs.45 lakh-study would be completed within four months.
Agreement
An agreement would soon be signed with the Kerala Water Authority for making available water from Vellayani Lake to the proposed port at a cost of Rs.3.89 crore. Talks were on with the Kerala State Electricity Board for ensuring power supply to the port.
The Minister said Vizhinjam was among the six ports in the State that would be developed in the first phase. The others are at Thangaserri, Alappuzha, Ponnani, Beypore, Azheekal.
He said Azheekal had been included in the National Maritime Programme of the Union Government. Land measuring 1.8 hectares would be acquired for the project estimated to cost Rs.1,387 crore.
The work on the port at Thangaserri was nearing completion and would be commissioned soon.
A marina and cargo port had been proposed for Alappuzha taking into account its tourism potential.
Huge investment would be needed for the development of the ports and the Government planned to take up the projects under public-private partnership.Maritime academies
Mr. Vijayakumar said the Government would set up maritime academies at Majeshwaram and Valiathura in Thiruvananthapuram.
Although land had been identified at Manjeshwaram, the progress of the project at Valiathura had hit a bottleneck. Replying to a question, the Minister said priority would be accorded to the rail-road connectivity for the proposed Vallarpadam project.
Staff Reporter
First phase of the project to be completed within three years
Security clearance hinders projectGovernment to take up projects under public-private partnership
Thiruvananthapuram: The tender process for the Vizhinjam international container transhipment terminal will be completed this year and the first phase of the project within three years, Minister for Ports M. Vijayakumar has said.
Replying to questions in the Assembly on Friday, the Minister said 43 companies, including 12 foreign firms, had participated in the investors meet held in the capital city in April.
A company, sponsored by the Russian Government, had evinced interest in the project, he said.
Mr. Vijayakumar said the security clearance was the main hurdle in the implementation of the project.
The State Government had been advised to consider national interest and internal security while evaluating the tenders.
Rail India Technical and Economic Services Limited (RITES) had been entrusted with the feasibility study on the rail and road connectivity to the port. The Rs.45 lakh-study would be completed within four months.
Agreement
An agreement would soon be signed with the Kerala Water Authority for making available water from Vellayani Lake to the proposed port at a cost of Rs.3.89 crore. Talks were on with the Kerala State Electricity Board for ensuring power supply to the port.
The Minister said Vizhinjam was among the six ports in the State that would be developed in the first phase. The others are at Thangaserri, Alappuzha, Ponnani, Beypore, Azheekal.
He said Azheekal had been included in the National Maritime Programme of the Union Government. Land measuring 1.8 hectares would be acquired for the project estimated to cost Rs.1,387 crore.
The work on the port at Thangaserri was nearing completion and would be commissioned soon.
A marina and cargo port had been proposed for Alappuzha taking into account its tourism potential.
Huge investment would be needed for the development of the ports and the Government planned to take up the projects under public-private partnership.Maritime academies
Mr. Vijayakumar said the Government would set up maritime academies at Majeshwaram and Valiathura in Thiruvananthapuram.
Although land had been identified at Manjeshwaram, the progress of the project at Valiathura had hit a bottleneck. Replying to a question, the Minister said priority would be accorded to the rail-road connectivity for the proposed Vallarpadam project.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Disturbing thoughts
"This is the last chance for Vizhinjam.
If no credible agency comes forward to bid for the project that will sound the death bell for this project.
This was precisely the reason why I thought I should give practical and sensible advice to the Kerala Govt how they should make this project attractive to the investors. The best way is to offer a 50 year period so that more investors will compete for the project.
If the Kerala Govt considers 50 years being a very long period how could Maharashtra Govt agree for 50 years? Why should Pondicherry Govt agree for 30 years extendable for another 20 years?
Vizhinjam is expected to attract container traffic emanating from other ports and already there is keen competition within the major ports for container traffic. As the terminal is expected to survive basically on transhipment cargo the investor will be facing an uncertain future.
A longer concession period will help the investor to weather the storm in the initial stages and turn the project profitable in the long run.
What would the Kerala Govt do if the Tamil Nadu govt advertises for Coalachal and offer a longer concession period of 50 years to make their transhipment project more attractive?.
I strongly believe that the TN Govt would exactly do the same. If that happens the Govt of kerala will look very vulnerable. By the time it will be too late to correct the course and the State will miss its last bus!"
Letter from Dr.Jose Paul
If no credible agency comes forward to bid for the project that will sound the death bell for this project.
This was precisely the reason why I thought I should give practical and sensible advice to the Kerala Govt how they should make this project attractive to the investors. The best way is to offer a 50 year period so that more investors will compete for the project.
If the Kerala Govt considers 50 years being a very long period how could Maharashtra Govt agree for 50 years? Why should Pondicherry Govt agree for 30 years extendable for another 20 years?
Vizhinjam is expected to attract container traffic emanating from other ports and already there is keen competition within the major ports for container traffic. As the terminal is expected to survive basically on transhipment cargo the investor will be facing an uncertain future.
A longer concession period will help the investor to weather the storm in the initial stages and turn the project profitable in the long run.
What would the Kerala Govt do if the Tamil Nadu govt advertises for Coalachal and offer a longer concession period of 50 years to make their transhipment project more attractive?.
I strongly believe that the TN Govt would exactly do the same. If that happens the Govt of kerala will look very vulnerable. By the time it will be too late to correct the course and the State will miss its last bus!"
Letter from Dr.Jose Paul
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