The process of identifying a consultant for the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB)-funded project to transform the elephant rehabilitation centre at Kottoor to a state-of-the-art facility has reached its final phase.
The tender scrutiny committee chaired by the Chief Wildlife Warden, which has been mandated with the responsibility of selecting a consultant for conducting a detailed feasibility study and for preparing the detailed project report (DPR), has zeroed in on two firms for the purpose. A meeting of the panel which was held a few days ago decided to shortlist the companies, viz., RTF Infra Ltd., Thiruvananthapuram, and the Pune-based UNISON Project Management Pvt. Ltd., for the tender.
According to official sources, their financial bids have been opened and were being evaluated. The contract will be awarded on the basis of the scores that are secured by the bidders under various categories. The scrutiny committee evaluated their presentations by taking into consideration the aspects of approach and methodology. The consultant is likely to be selected within another week, sources said.
The proposed expansion will be undertaken at a cost of ₹105 crore which will be mobilised by the KIIFB. The development is likely to be conducted in a phased manner over a period of two years. The Neyyar-Peppara Forest Development Agency is the special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the project.
Conceived on the lines of the elephant orphanage at Pinnawala in Sri Lanka, the project also envisages expanding the rehabilitation centre’s coverage from its existing 56 hectares to around 175 hectares by acquiring the adjoining forest land. The proposed facility is also expected to be able to accommodate over 50 elephants, including abandoned captive elephants and captured wild elephants.
