The government has decided to reach out to the two port operating companies and a consortia that have bought the Request for Proposal (RFP) to construct the port superstructure and operate the Vizhinjam international multi-purpose seaport .
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday at his official residence here in the wake of lack of response from the bidding companies to the global tenders floated by Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL), when the extended three-week deadline ended on February 20.
The Chief Minister will soon hold talks with the top management of the three firms that have bought the RFP for the ambitious project mooted in the PPP mode.
Official sources said the meeting to be called by the Chief Minister was aimed at showing the determination of the government to go ahead with the project and find out why they backed out without submitting the RFP. The meeting discussed all options before the government .
The government had already extended the bid date till March 25 so that the three who had bought the RFP submit the RFP. The meeting also decided to hold the pre-bid meeting again.
Five major port operating companies and consortia had responded to the global tender.
The entities that submitted the Request for Proposal (RFQ) were Gammon Infrastructure Projects, Hyundai-Concast Infratech Ltd., Essar Ports, Adani Ports, and a consortium of Srei Infrastructure and OHL. Of this, only Essar Ports, Adani Ports, and the consortium of Srei and OHL bought the RFP.
