Fresh global tenders will be invited for the Vizhinjam trans shipment project in view of the centre's rejection of security clearance to the Chinese firm short listed in the previous bid.

Talking to media here, Kerala law Minister M Vijayakumar said work on the project was expected to begin within a year.

He said though the government had requested the centre to reconsider its objection to the project, the latter had again rejected the government's plea, citing the same security reasons.

Mr Vijayakumar said an all party-delegation had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and submitted a memorandum to reconsider the centre's decision on the issue.

Though the Prime Minister had re-examined it, the result was not favourable to the state, he added.

After receiving the formal letter in this regard from the centre, the government would invite fresh bids and was expected to start work on the project within one year, he said.

The centre had declined to give formal approval to the project citing security reasons because of a Chinese firm's involvement.

When it was pointed out that Mumbai and Chennai had already invited fresh tenders for constructing ports there, he said in both places, the Chinese firm was functioning under an Indian company and so they could take action immediately.

However, in Kerala, the Chinese company was the major partner in the Vizhinjam project.

Regarding the Kannur airport, the Minister said the centre in Principle had agreed to the project and received the NOC from the defence, environment and forest ministries.

Though the main hurdle for implementing the project was the need for two runways, with the intervention of the civil aviation ministry, they had agreed to start the project with one runway.
Source : The Hindu, Nov 29