Ensure Central aid for Vizhinjam project: Janapaksham

Ensure Central aid for Vizhinjam project: Janapaksham

T'PURAM: Janapaksham, Thiruvananthapuram, has urged the State Government to ensure Central aid for the proposed deepwater container transshipment hub at Vizhinjam as the cut-off date for submitting tenders is nearing.

Central aid is imperative for the Vizhinjam Port since road and rail connectivity had to be developed for it, the executive committee of Janapaksham, which met here on Sunday, reminded the government.


The Centre had earmarked Rs 500 crore for developing ports under the State Governments.

The fund is used to develop rail and road connectivity to the ports and is issued through State Maritime Boards, Janapaksham general secretary Swaminathan said in a statement.

Since Vizhinjam is planned as the first mother port in the country, it should be accorded special consideration by the Centre, he said. Janapaksham president Elias John presided.

The State Government had fixed January 31 as the final date for submitting bids for the Rs 5,328-crore project.

In fact, the cut-off date is the fourth one fixed by the government after the companies sought more time.

Because of this, the schedule for the project set in April last year has been chucked into the bin.

According to the schedule, the construction of the port should begin in December 2008. Now it is almost sure that it is not going to happen.