Kerala puts on hold Rs 6,000-cr Vizhinjam project bid award

Convenes all-party meet on June 3 to discuss giving project to sole bidder Adani Group

The Kerala Cabinet meeting today decided to postpone the announcement of final award of Vizhinjam International seaport project tender to the sole bidder Adani Group in the light of serious allegations raised over awarding the project on the basis of a lone bid.

The state government has decided to convene an all-party meeting on June 3 for discussing the matter. Chief minister Oommen Chandy said the government would take a final decision based on suggestions at the all-party meet.

Answering queries, he said the state government was hopeful of addressing the concerns of the Opposition parties.

"We have nothing to hide. We are processing the proposal transparently. The state government will come with an open mind for the all-party meet. I am hoping the meet would take a proper decision as Vizhinjam is a dream project of the state," said Chandy.

Earlier, the board of directors of Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL) had given its nod clearing the sole tender submitted by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone for developing the port.

The board meeting, chaired by Chandy, had also approved the lone bid. The empowered committee, presided by chief secretary Jiji Thomson too had recommended the state government to accept Adani Group's tender.

Nod for extension of metro rail to Kakkanad

The Cabinet today gave its nod for extending Kochi metro rail to the IT hub Kakkanad.

Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy today said the new phase (extension 1 B) of the metro will be from Jawaharlal Nehru International stadium at Kaloor to Kakkanad. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram today.

The proposed extension will cover 11.2 kilometres with an additional expenditure of Rs 2,017 crore.

Earlier, in 2014, the board of directors of the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), based on a study conducted by Rites, had given its clearance to the metro's extension to Kakkanad.

Citing an expert study, Chandy said there would be 124,000 passengers commuting towards Kakkanad by 2021, which is expected to increase to 195,000 in the following 10-year period.