Vizhinjam port project to be completed on time: Ker CM

CPI(M)-led LDF government would complete the construction of the multi-crore Vizhinjam International Seaport project in a time-bound manner though various concerns raised against it still remained, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the state assembly today.
There was no option before the LDF government other than implementing it as the previous Congress-led UDF government had inked the agreement in this regard, he said during the Question Hour.
"A number of concerns have risen in connection with the Vizhinjam project agreement since the beginning itself. Those concerns regarding the project still remain," Vijayan said.
"But, we have no option other than implementing the project as the previous government already inked the deal in this regard. The project will be completed in a time-bound manner," he said.

On the questions about the alleged 'leakage' of CAG report on Vizhinjam project, he said not the final report but some information from the draft report was appeared on media.
It was not a new thing that such a report was being leaked, he added.

Port Minister Kadannappally Ramachandran said the government was yet to receive the final CAG report on Vizhinjam and what appeared on a section of media was only some information from the draft report.
The minister said discussions were going on in connection with the rehabilitation of fisher-folk and resort staff as part of the project.

The Vizhinjam seaport project, designed primarily to cater container transhipment besides multi-purpose and break bulk cargo, is being developed by Kerala government in collaboration with the Adani Group.