Vizhinjam Port remains a pipedream

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vizhinjam port may remain a distant dream with the deadline to finish the first phase ending on Wednesday.

The work has suffered due to cyclone Ockhi and the recent changes in the National Green Tribunal Act on mining leading to shortage of rock. Though the Adani Group had asked for a revised deadline, the government has not taken any decision. Mr Rajesh Jha, CEO of Vizhinjam Ports Private Limited, told Deccan Chronicle they had asked for a 16-month extension of the contract. However, the government was yet to respond positively. The company has to pay a compensation of `12 lakh for each day of delay.

The agreement with Adani Group for the construction of an international multi-purpose deep water seaport at a cost of `7,525 crore was signed by the UDF government on August 17, 2015. Out of the total amount, the state will spend `2,280 crore and the Centre `817.8 crore. The construction was inaugurated on December 5 that year and the group had promised to complete the first phase within 1,000 days. This involved building a berth length of 800 metres and a container yard of 131 acres. The group had also promised to anchor the first ship at the port within 1,000 days of starting the work. However, the deadline passed on September 1, 2018.

According to the agreement, Adani will operate the port for 40 years, extendable by 20 more years, while the state will get a portion of the revenue from the 15th year.