The multi-thousand-crore Vizhinjam deepwater port and international container transhipment terminal project crossed a major milestone, with the two bidder consortiums getting the all-clear from the Union Ministry of Defence.
Earlier, the technical bids by the consortiums led by Welspun Infratech and Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone, was accepted by the special purpose vehicle Vizhinjam International Seaports Ltd (VISL) set up by the Kerala Government.
An official spokesman said the Defence Minister, Mr A. K. Antony, has written to the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, and the Minister for Ports, Mr K. Babu, informing them about the Defence clearance.
Two more crucial go-aheads from the Centre are now awaited before the State Government could hope to open the financial bids of the two consortiums.
These have to come from the Union Ministry of Home and the Union Ministry of External Affairs, the spokesman said.
Subsequent to this, the award of the project to the successful bidder would be just a matter of formality