The Kerala state government has issued an order to hand over consent letter to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) for establishing the Vizhinjam port.
Within seven days Adani group has to give an official reply. Ports Minister K Babu said the final agreement will be signed within 45 days.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said with the handing over of the consent letter all allegations being raised about the opposition to Adani Group has been proved wrong.
“We have handed over the letter of intent to Adani Group today. It’s a clean project. There is no controversy in it,” Oommen said.
Adani Ports will hold discussion with the state government on July 20. Adani Ports was the lone bidder and sought Rs.1,635 crore as grant for the proposed port project. The Rs.4,000-crore first phase of the port is expected to be completed in three phases, with the first phase being ready by 2019.
Adani Ports is India's leading private sector port developer and operator, and operates India's most sophisticated and fastest growing container port that may soon unseat Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust as India's top container port. Adani Ports won the tender process for Vizhinjam fair and square. Other considerations are frankly beside the point.
By completing the project, the port can accommodate 18000 TEU Mother Vessels. Moreover, in connection with the project fishermen profitable Fishing Harbor would be constructed. Cruz terminal has also been planned.
The Vizhinjam project was mooted in early 1990s and has been delayed for various political reasons.