All eyes are on an all-party meeting convened by the government on Wednesday to thrash out a way to enable the take-off of the Vizhinjam International Deep-water Multipurpose Seaport project.
All issues concerning the project, including the sole bid submitted by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ), a private multi-port operator, to build the port superstructure and operate the seaport project by partnering with the State, will come up at the meeting.
The government has invited all political parties to the meeting to be chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at 11.30 a.m.
Official sources say a detailed presentation will be made to inform political leaders of what the government and Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd. (VISL) have done so far.
The decision to hold the meeting was taken on May 20 by the Cabinet, which considered the sole bid of the APSEZ.
It was recommended by an empowered committee headed by Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson and the VISL board headed by Mr. Chandy. The decision to defer the award of the bid was taken following apprehensions raised by some quarters and the Rs.6,000-crore corruption charges raised by the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
Officials to make a detailed presentation
Chandy sees bid to scuttle project
The ball is in the court of the State with Union Minister for Road Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari making it clear that the State will have to take a call soon.
