Trivandrum, Dec. 13 The last date for submitting bids for award of contract for implementation of the proposed international container trans-shipment terminal at Vizhinjam has again been extended.

The State Government had last fixed the deadline for the global tender as December 15. It has now been extended to January 31 next year, according to an official statement.

This is the fourth time the deadline is being extended since the Government decided to float fresh tender for the terminal in the beginning of this year. The fresh tender was necessitated following the Centre’s refusal to give security clearance to a consortium of Indian and Chinese companies which bagged the tender the first time it was floated.

Though around 30 companies, including domestic and foreign ones, had bought request for proposal, no one had submitted bids till date, forcing the Government to extend the date. The companies had sought more time to study the details before submitting the bids, according to sources in the Department of Ports.

Source: Hindu Business Line