The Vizhinjam port project is hanging fire for over six months after the Centre refused to clear the project due the presence of two Chinese companies in a three-member consortium that won the tender.

Achuthanandan had led an all-party delegation to Delhi in August to urge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to grant clearance to the Rs.43.6-billion port project.

But the centre stuck to its stand since the Chinese companies are also reportedly working on a port in Pakistan.

Elias John, who is in the forefront of a massive campaign for the project, said the port might not see the light of day unless action is taken soon.

"Colachel is just 40 km from Vizhinjam and Tamil Nadu ministers, especially the Shipping Minister TR Baalu, will do anything to get the project going. If they are going to float the tender first, then Vizhinjam will lose out because companies prefer to work in Tamil Nadu for various reasons," John said.

But Kerala Ports Minister M. Vijayakumar said that there was no cause for concern, as work on the project would begin in a year, even if a new tender had to be invited.