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#1 ·
#241 ·
A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MoU) HAS BEEN SIGNED BETWEEN M/S BPCL & KIAL ON 24 JULY 2012 FOR RS 170 CRORES EQUITY PARTICICIPATION BY BPCL AND A JOINT VENTURE FUEL FARM FACILITY AT THE AIRPORT







MoU SIGNING BETWEEN BPCL & KIAL FOR 170 CRORES EQUITY PARTICIPATION BY BPCL AND A JOINT VENTURE FUEL FARM FACILITY AT THE AIRPORT ON 24 JULY 2012 AT MASCOT HOTEL THIRUVANANTHAPURAM IN THE PRESENCE OF SHRI OOMMEN CHANDI, HON'BLE CHIEF MINISTER OF KERALA.
 
#242 ·
PMO finalises roadmap for implementing key infra projects

:cheers:

New Delhi: With a view to giving a push to investments and boost growth, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Friday announced a roadmap for implementation of flagship infrastructure projects which include three airports, two major ports and rail corridors schemes.

The ministries concerned will be required to complete the formalities for implementation of the projects in a time-bound manner and will also regularly monitor their progress, said a PMO statement.

The projects, for which implementation timeline has been finalised include two major ports in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal and three airports at Navi Mumbai, Mopa (Goa) and Kannur (Kerala).

The other projects include elevated rail corridor project in Mumbai, high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad and other routes, and redevelopment of five railway stations.

"In recent meetings, detailed roadmaps have been worked for the flagship infrastructure projects in key sectors. These flagship projects had been identified and approved by the Prime Minister in the infrastructure meeting held on June 6, 2012", the statement said.

The detailed timelines for implementation of these projects, it said, "have been drawn up for intermediate stages. Mechanisms have also been put in place for regular monitoring and problem solving".

The speedier implementation of the key infrastructure sector projects is needed to promote investment and also boost economic growth which slipped to nine-year low of 6.5 percent in 2011-12.

...

For the Kannur airport, Kerala Government has set up an agency for implementing the project.

The PMO also said the Civil Aviation Ministry will propose a Standing IMG for all new PPP airports which will address all regulatory, traffic and pricing issues relating to these airports. The IMG will harmonise the greenfield airport policy with regard to matters of concern to both the Central and State Governments and suggest ways for fast tracking PPP airports under the Greenfield Policy. :cheers:

...

http://zeenews.india.com/business/n...or-implementing-key-infra-projects_56777.html
 
#243 ·
Kannur airport in three years: MD

Traffic of 3.83 million estimated in 3 years

Kannur International Airport Ltd. (KIAL) Managing Director (MD) V. Thulasidas has said that the proposed Kannur airport coming up near Mattannur here is estimated to have a passenger traffic of 3.83 million in three years and a cargo volume of 37,000 tonnes in 10 years and is expected to give a major fillip to the tourism sector.

Delivering a keynote address at a programme on ‘Kannur International Airport: gateway to business and export opportunities’ organised by the North Malabar Chamber of Commerce (NMCC) here on Tuesday, Mr. Thulasidas said the Rs.1,414-crore project coming up on a 2,000-acre land would be developed in three years.

“We are going to put time as a key objective to be achieved to complete this project,” he said adding that the company would apply incentives and disincentives to ensure the achievement of that objective.

Stating that the airport would be cost-effective and environment-friendly, the KIAL MD said the project would be executed through the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) route. The catchment area of the airport would extend to Wayanad and also Kodagu in Karnataka.

Dwelling on the business opportunities thrown up by the airport project, he said that only the business activities, including in the tourism sector, could ensure adequate volume of cargo and passenger traffic for the greenfield airport.

1,300 acres acquired

As 1,300 acres had already been acquired, the KIAL could commence the construction works soon, he said adding that the remaining 700 acres to be acquired were important since the second runway would be located there.

The earthwork in the first part of the construction work would be huge, he said adding that the company had invited tenders for the work.

The KIAL had already received the approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ terms of reference for obtaining the final clearance, Mr. Thulasidas said. Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) had already submitted a draft detailed project report (DPR) and prepared the design for the 3,400-metre runway.

Though the proposed airport’s main source of traffic would be NRIs, the tourism potential of North Malabar region would also be a major boost to the project. While Rs.784-crore of the total estimated cost would be raised through equity, the remaining Rs.634 crore would be mobilised as loans from financial institutions, he said.

Of the equity component, 26 per cent would be earmarked as State government share, 23 per cent of the equity would be allotted to the public sector undertakings, including Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL). A joint venture of the BPCL and KIAL would set up the fuel farm at the airport, he said.

Of the remaining 51 per cent, 49 per cent would be allotted to private sector, two per cent to entities promoted by the State government, he said.

Mr. Thulasidas attributed the delay in allotment of shares to incompletion of the land acquisition and the litigation against acquisition. He said the company had already started issuing shares. He said that widening and development of eight roads to the airport site were important for the growth of the entire region. He also said that the Kannur airport project was among the key infrastructure projects being directly monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office.

District Collector Rathan Kelkar inaugurated the programme. NMCC president K. Vinod Narayanan presided. NMCC vice-president C. Jayachandran and secretary C.V. Deepak were present.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article3774000.ece
 
#244 ·
Kannur airport will give exports a boost, says MD


KANNUR: The Kannur International Airport (KIAL) would offer exporters immense opportunity to enhance their business. It also has the potential to beat all other airports in the state in passenger and cargo traffic, its managing director V Thulasidas has said.

"According to projection, KIAL will handle around 3.85 million passengers a year by 2025, and cargo traffic will be around 37,239 metric tonnes," he said addressing a meeting organized by the North Malabar Chamber of Commerce here recently.

Last year, Thiruvananthapuram airport handled 3.3 million passengers and 53,000 metric tonnes of cargo, while Calicut handled two million passengers and 23,000 metric tonnes of cargo; in Cochin it was 5.2 million and 13,000 metric tones, respectively.

Thulasidas said they were planning a cost-effective airport and hence it would breakeven early.

As per available data, Kannur has the second largest population of the NRIs in the Gulf region. They would be the mainstay of the airport. People from Coorg, Mysore, Wayanad, Kasaragod and Kozhikode districts too would give this airport business.

The cargo sector in Kannur can serve the plantation-based economy of Coorg and Wayanad, as also the textile business in Kannur.

"Gulf is not the sole export market; we have to tap the European markets as well as the emerging markets of Africa. This airport will open new avenues for the export-oriented businesses," Thulasidas said.

Moreover, north Malabar is expected to be the future tourism destination, and that would help the airport. And the boom in tourism will naturally help the hospitality industry, helping to add more hotels and resorts to the region.

Thulasidas also said Kannur would be the first truly environment-friendly airport in India. "It will have water recycling facility and would use non-conventional energy," he said.

However, to realize the dream, infrastructure development is essential, Thulasidas pointed out, adding that the airport could attract traffic only if there was proper road connectivity. He also urged the business community to plan an investment strategy.

The process of tendering the earthwork for the airport in Mattannur will soon begin. As of now, 24 companies, including some foreign ones, have expressed interest in the work. Considering the terrain there, it will be a tough job.

Thulasidas said 51 per cent of KIAL's shares would be given to the private sector. Any registered entity or individual can apply. One should apply for a minimum of 500 shares, each with a face value of Rs 100.

In the public sector, BPCL would be the main shareholder. It will develop a fuel farm and a petrol pump at the airport.

Representatives of trade bodies from the state, as well as Coorg and Mysore participated in the discussions. District collector Rathan Kelkar, who inaugurated the meeting, said apprehensions about land acquisition had been considerably eased. He said the third phase of acquisition would begin soon.

Already 1,275 acres have been acquired and this is sufficient for now, according to airport officials. The remaining 750 acres to be acquired in the third phase is for development works in the future.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...orts-a-boost-says-MD/articleshow/15525298.cms
 
#245 ·
Kannur airport project consultant chosen
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 21:



A consortium of STUP Consultants and Darashaw has been selected as the integrated airport project consultant for Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL).

The airport company has signed an agreement with the consortium today, V. Thulasidas, Managing Director, KIAL, told Business Line here.

The consortium will handhold KIAL to develop the greenfield airport project from the design to operational stage. It will provide advisory services on strategy, technical, finance, legal, legal and operational aspects.

The airport is proposed to be carbon-neutral and hopes to rely to the maximum extent possible on clean and renewable energy. The consultants are expected to incorporate the green energy concept into the airport infrastructure.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3803098.ece
 
#246 ·
Project consultants for Kannur airport selected


Terms of Reference for the environment impact assessment study had been cleared by the Ministry for Environment and Forests.


A consortium of STUP Consultants and Darashaw has been selected as integrated airport project consultant for the Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL).

The airport company signed an agreement with the consortium here on Tuesday, V. Thulasidas, Managing Director, KIAL, told Business Line here.

CARBON-NEUTRAL

The consortium will handhold KIAL to develop the greenfield airport project from the design to operational stage.

It will provide advisory services on strategy and technical, finance, legal, legal and operational aspects.

The airport is proposed to be carbon-neutral and hopes to rely to the maximum extent possible on clean and renewable energy.

The consultants are expected to incorporate the green energy concept into the airport infrastructure.

PPP MODEL

Kannur is the fourth international airport in Kerala, being developed in a private-public participation mode based on the Cochin International Airport Ltd.

The State Government will hold 26 per cent of the equity, while 23 per cent will be held by public sector undertakings of the State or Central Government.

Government-promoted agencies will hold two per cent and balance would be raised from qualified institutional investors, individuals, companies, cooperative banks/societies and other legal entities.

The company expects to get the equity component fully subscribed by March next year.

EARTH WORK

Giving an update, Thulasidas said some of the country’s largest companies have expressed interest for undertaking earth work in the entire operational area.

Terms of Reference for the environment impact assessment (EIA) study had been cleared by the Ministry for Environment and Forests.

Thiruvananthapuram-based Centre for Earth Science Studies and Environmental Engineers and Consultants, New Delhi, are consultants for the study.

Half of the exercise is already over, Thulasidas added.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3803098.ece
 
#247 ·
21 August 2012
PRESS RELEASE

Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) had invited Requests For Proposals for project consultancy. Based on the proposals received, and after detailed evaluation, the Board of Directors of the Company selected M/s STUP Consultants Pvt. Ltd., (STUP) Mumbai, for providing the consultancy services for Kannur Airport Project.

KIAL have signed agreement with M/s STUP Consultants Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai for project consultancy for Kannur Airport Project. M/s STUP have formed a consortium with M/s Darashaw Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai for providing project consultancy to KIAL. In addition, M/s STUP have also engaged experts from TERI, New Delhi and Air Transport & Tourism Advisors India Pvt Ltd., New Delhi for providing specialist services.

The scope of project consultancy covers:

 review of detailed project report and other plans already prepared;

 preparation of plans, designs, estimates, etc for both air side and city side facilities as well as equipment for the airport;

 assisting the Company in obtaining statutory clearances and approvals required from time to time;

 selection of EPC contractor and monitoring and supervision of all contracts as well as construction;

 coordination, monitoring, checking, testing and commissioning of the airport, and;

 preparation of financial analysis and business plan for the airport.


Earlier, KIAL had engaged Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) for preparation of detailed project report and design & estimate of the main runway. The draft reports in this regard have been received and the final reports are expected shortly.

http://www.kannurairport.org/images/pdf/consultant.pdf
 
#248 ·
Kannur airport work hits legal road block :bash:

The work on Kannur international airport, the first phase of which is tentatively scheduled to be commissioned in 2014, is likely to delay with a failed bidder approaching the Kerala High Court against awarding consultancy contract.
The Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) had on Tuesday signed an agreement with a consortium of STUP Consultants and Darashaw as integrated airport project consultant.
A day later, the court issued notice to the state government and KIAL on a petition filed by the Kochi-based Mir Projects and Consultants, which was part of the consortium of the second highest bidder along with INECO, RITES Ltd and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The petitioner wants the court to cancel the contract with the STUP-led consortium and award it to the one led by INESCO.
According to the petitioner, the lowest quote was given by them whereas STUP quoted a price Rs35mn higher than INESCO.
As per the tender condition, participants in the consultancy bid should not be blacklisted nor have failed to perform any agreement or contract awarded by government bodies.
The petitioner points out that the STUP was disqualified by the Uttarakhand State Infrastructure Development Corporation in the expansion of Naini-Saini airstrip issue.
According to them, the group was also blacklisted by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) over faulty design of a triangular flyover and also by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
The case has been posted for September 6.
The successful bidder was to help KIAL develop the greenfield airport project from the design to operational stage providing advisory services on strategy and technical, finance, legal and operational aspects of the carbon-neutral airport.
The Kerala government, which holds a 26% stake, is the largest shareholder of the airport company, followed by Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) which will hold 21% investing Rs1.7bn.
The Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd (KMML) and Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) have invested Rs50mn each besides the Kerala State Industrial Enterprises’ Rs1mn.
The airport company which has an authorised capital of Rs10bn wants to raise Rs7.84bn initially in subscriptions as against the original plan of Rs5bn paid up capital. The state government has acquired shares worth Rs1.3bn.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topi...=526710&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22
 
#250 ·
Show-cause notice to Kannur airport project consultant

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT 4:
Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) has issued a show-cause notice to STUP Consultants, winner of the integrated project consultancy contract.

KIAL has hinted at cancellation of the consultancy agreement if STUP Consultants is found to have violated Request for Proposal (RFP) conditions as alleged.

Earlier, Kochi-based Mir Projects and Consultants, a rival contender, had approached the High Court of Kerala seeking cancellation of the contract.

It had alleged that the award of the contract to a consortium of STUP Consultants and Darashaw violated the tender requirement that bidders should not have been blacklisted.

The high court proceeded to issue notices to the Kerala Government and KIAL and had posted the case for further hearing for Thursday (September 6).

On Monday, a spokesman for the airport company quoted V. Thulasidas, Managing Director, as saying that the show-cause notice has been served.

This was after KIAL came across comments indicating that STUP had been blacklisted by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board.

The spokesman said that STUP had earlier submitted an affidavit to KIAL that it was not blacklisted or disqualified in any other contracts. It was also not subjected to disqualification as had been pointed out by a rival bid participant.

He quoted the Managing Director as saying that legal action would be taken if it was found that the RFP conditions have been violated.

STUP was selected project consultant after being ranked first in the composite technical-cum-financial evaluation carried out as per provisions of the RFP.

The consortium would handhold KIAL to develop the greenfield airport project from the design to operational stage.

It will also provide advisory services on strategy and technical, finance, legal, legal and operational aspects.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com.../article3858867.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home
 
#251 ·
Kannur airport consultancy to be scrapped

Kannur International Airport Ltd would cancel the consultancy agreement with the Mumbai-based STUP Consultants, on the ground that the firm had been blacklisted by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board.

Government sources said on Wednesday KIAL decided to terminate the agreement after obtaining legal opinion from the advocate general’s office. KIAL is likely to report this to the high court on Thursday, as a case is posted for hearing on that day.

KIAL is likely to float a fresh tender to select a project consulant, and ignore the earlier bids altogether. There are also chances of STUP approaching the court against KIAL’s cancellation of the contract. :bash:

The issue arose as Mir projects, which had also participated in the bid, approached the court alleging that STUP had been blacklisted by Uttarakhand infrastructure development corporation and the Rajkot municipal corporation.

However, it later turned out that the Punjab infrastructure development board had blacklisted STUP. Since the term for blacklisting the company had not been mentioned, it implied that STUP was still in the blacklist. Subsequently KIAL issued a showcause notice to STUP on September 1.
 
#252 ·
Fresh bids may be called for Kannur airport project consultant

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT 7:
Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) is expected to call fresh bids for an integrated airport consultant.

This has become inevitable after it has had to cancel the agreement with a consortium led by STUP Consultants for violation of request for proposals (RFP) conditions.

Blacklisting rider

An official spokesman said here that the KIAL tender notice had specified clearly that no contractor with a concurrent blacklisting was eligible to apply.

The STUP consortium and rival bidders had given an undertaking to KIAL that they did not bear any ‘blacklisted’ tag while applying to its tender.

As per the terms of the tender, the technical bids were to be evaluated first. The financial bids would be opened only if the respective technical bids had scored minimum 75 per cent marks.

Eighty per cent weightage would be given to technical excellence and the financial bid, 20 per cent.

When these scores were put together, STUP Consultants had come up trumps and had gone on to clinch the contract on August 9.

But a show-cause was served when it came to KIAL’s notice that STUP Consultants had been declared ineligible in two earlier contracts in Uttarkhand and Gujarat.

Reply to notice

In its reply to the show-cause, STUP Consultants was able to convince KIAL that it could not be accused of violations of the type that the latter was referring to.

It was subsequent to this that the contract for the integrated airport consultancy was signed with STUP Consultants and Darashaw, the spokesman said.

But later KIAL accessed an affidavit submitted by STUP Consultants with respect to a related case in the High Court of Kerala indicating an instance of its blacklisting in Punjab.

This blacklisting did not speak of a specific period of pendency, leading to perception that it could well have been valid at the time of applying for the KIAL contract.

KIAL served another notice to STUP to come clear, the reply to which failed to carry conviction. This was followed by the cancellation of the contract, the spokesman said.

New bids

According to sources, KIAL will now seek to include new riders for selecting the new consultant.

The bids will be evaluated by a committee appointed by the board, in accordance with the norms and eligibility criteria to be prescribed in the RFP documents.

The KIAL board is likely be convened next week in Kochi to take decision on calling for fresh bids.

Efforts are on to call the bids at the earliest and appoint the project consultant by October first week.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3869646.ece
 
#253 ·
Kannur airport: consultancy pact with STUP cancelled


Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) cancels its consultancy agreement with Mumbai-based M/s STUP Consultants Pvt Ltd after it has been found that the RFP (request for proposal) conditions had been violated by the Indo-French consortium.

The agreement signed with STUP, appointing it as project consultant, on August 17 has been cancelled and KIAL has decided to call fresh bids for selecting a new project consultant, KIAL Managing Director V. Thulasidas told The Hindu on Thursday.

The decision comes in the wake of the STUP’s reply to a show-cause notice served on it by KIAL. It is now found that STUP was blacklisted by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board when it submitted bids for the Kannur project, as pointed out by another firm that lost the bids. Legal opinion also has come against STUP.

Earlier, KIAL had served a show-cause notice on STUP after it was pointed out by a firm that the consortium had been disqualified/blacklisted in two earlier contracts with the Uttarakhand Infrastructure Development Corporation and the Rajkot municipal corporation.

Then STUP submitted an affidavit that it was not blacklisted or disqualified in any other contracts.

STUP had formed a consortium with M/s Darashaw Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, for providing project consultancy to KIAL. In addition, STUP has engaged experts from TERI, New Delhi, and Air Transport & Tourism Advisors India Pvt Ltd., New Delhi, for providing specialist services.

No money given

Although KIAL has not given any money to the project consultant, the MD said it had commenced work in Kannur. KIAL is now thinking of including new riders for selecting the new consultant. It has decided to claim damages from STUP on account of the cancellation of the agreement. The consortium won the bid for Rs.14.5 crore.

The selection and appointment of the new project consultant will be made through a transparent bidding process.

The bids will be evaluated by an evaluation committee appointed by the board, strictly in accordance with the norms and eligibility criteria to be prescribed in the RFP documents.

The KIAL board is being convened next week in Kochi and a decision to call fresh bids will be taken at the meeting. Efforts are on to call the bids at the earliest and appoint the project consultant by October first week.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article3868854.ece
 
#254 ·
Kannur Airport consultancy contract scrapped, HC told


In a new twist to the controversies regarding the Kannur international airport project, the state government on Thursday submitted before the Kerala High Court that it has decided to terminate the project consultancy services agreement entered into with the Mumbai-based STUP Consultants, on the ground that the firm had been blacklisted by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board.
“KIAL (Kannur International Airport Ltd) is likely to float a fresh tender to select a project consultant. A decision regarding this will be taken in a cabinet meeting to be held in Kochi next week,” Additional Advocate General (AAG) K A Jaleel submitted.
Justice T R Ramachandran Nair recorded the submission and posted the hearing of the case to next week. The court passed the order while considering a petition filed by P M Prakash, general manager of Kochi based MIR Projects and Consultants, seeking a directive to quash the KIAL agreement with the STUP. MIR was the second highest scorer in the bid. MIR submitted that STUP had been blacklisted by Uttarakhand government and the Rajkot municipal corporation.
The AAG submitted that the STUP had violated the Request for Proposal (RFP) conditions. KIAL had invited the RFP with several conditions. It had clearly specified that the company or an entity under them should not have been black listed by Central and state governments.
The STUP had earlier submitted an affidavit to KIAL that it was not blacklisted or disqualified in any other contracts.
“On September, KIAL came to know that STUP had been blacklisted by Punjab government and issued a show-cause notice to them to explain why the agreement should not be cancelled. In reply, the company said that they were initially black listed in 2007 by Punjab government, but this order was set aside by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. However the company was once again blacklisted in 2009,” the state submitted.
The STUP had argued before the Airport Authority that black listing without mentioning a period is against law and therefore invalid. However, KIAL rejected it and found that the company was not eligible to submit tender.
 
#255 ·
Kannur airport MD steps down


Thiruvananthapuram:

The managing director of the proposed Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL), V. Thulasidas, has resigned. The international airport is expected to give a fresh boost to the commercial prospects of the Malabar region in north Kerala, besides being a boon to the tens of thousands of air travellers from that region.

Thulasidas met minister K. Babu in person and handed over his resignation on Friday. The resignation comes in the wake of controversy over the consultancy contract of the airport project. The deal between KIAL and the consultancy company STUP had been questioned after it was found that the latter had been blacklisted in Gujarat and some other states. Initially, however, KIAL took the stand that the consultancy company was competent to handle the work.

A Kochi-based company, Mir Projects and Consultant,s had gone to court regarding this matter, and the court is likely to give its verdict soon. Even before the court verdict, the airport company’s agreement with the blacklisted company was cancelled. The state government had also raised queries regarding the consultancy deal approved by KIAL.

Thulasidas had earlier been the chairman and managing director of India’s national carrier, Air India. His resignation has further dampened the prospects of KIAL, which will be a setback for the large number of air travellers from north Kerala and parts of Karnataka.

http://gulfnews.com/news/world/india/kannur-airport-md-steps-down-1.1071491
 
#256 ·
KIAL MD Thulasidas leaves in a huff


Kannur International Airport Ltd managing director and airport special officer V. Thulasidas has quit in a huff, “pained by the vilification attempt by a section of the media” over the award of a consultancy contract.

Mr Thulasidas met ports minister K. Babu, who is in charge of KIAL, on Friday and handed over his resignation. The KIAL board had last week decided to cancel the consultancy agreement with Mumbai-based STUP Consultants.

Mr Thulasidas pointed out in his resignation letter that baseless allegations had been leveled against him in connection with the the consultancy contract and it had caused anguish and pain to him.

But he clarified that he had nothing against the Government and he had enjoyed the best of relations with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Mr Babu.

Mr Babu said the Chief Minister would take a call. The KIAL director board decided to cancel the agreement with STUP on September 5 after it found that the firm had been blacklisted by Punjab Infrastructure Development Board and Uttarakhand Infrastructure Development Corporation.

KIAL had issued a show-cause notice to STUP on September 1. The decision to terminate the agreement was taken after obtaining the legal opinion from the Advocate General. Rival firm Mir projects had approached the court against STUP.

KIAL will call a fresh tender, but chances of STUP challenging the decision could not be ruled out.

STUP had given an affidavit to KIAL, undertaking to compensate losses if the contract was cancelled owing to a lapse on its part.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/thiruvananthapuram/kial-md-thulasidas-leaves-huff-622
 
#257 ·
Thulasidas resignation: Final call on Tuesday, says minister

Minister in charge of Civil Aviation K Babu told ‘Express’ that he had received the resignation letter of Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) Managing Director V Thulasidas. “A decision to accept it or not will be taken in the KIAL director board meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday evening,” he said.

The deal between KIAL and the consultancy company STUP came under a cloud after it was found that the latter had been blacklisted in Gujarat and by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board. It was alleged that the consultancy agreement of STUP Consultants was found to have violated Request for Proposal conditions. The Kochi-based Mir Projects and Consultants, a rival contender, had approached the High Court of Kerala seeking cancellation of the contract. It had alleged that the award of the contract to a consortium of STUP Consultants violated the tender requirement that bidders should not be blacklisted by any agency.

However, KIAL took the stand that the consultancy company was competent enough to handle the assignment. The High Court proceeded to issue notices to the Kerala Government and KIAL and has posted the case for further hearing.

Following this, the airport company’s agreement with the blacklisted company was cancelled. The state government had also raised queries as to how the consultancy deal was approved by KIAL. Thulasidas, who had a long stint as Chairman and Managing Director of India’s national carrier, Air India, was not available for comment.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/thulasid...l-on-tuesday-says-minister/289774-60-116.html
 
#258 ·
Thulasidas resignation: Final call on Tuesday, says minister

Minister in charge of Civil Aviation K Babu told ‘Express’ that he had received the resignation letter of Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) Managing Director V Thulasidas. “A decision to accept it or not will be taken in the KIAL director board meeting scheduled to be held on Tuesday evening,” he said.

The deal between KIAL and the consultancy company STUP came under a cloud after it was found that the latter had been blacklisted in Gujarat and by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board. It was alleged that the consultancy agreement of STUP Consultants was found to have violated Request for Proposal conditions. The Kochi-based Mir Projects and Consultants, a rival contender, had approached the High Court of Kerala seeking cancellation of the contract. It had alleged that the award of the contract to a consortium of STUP Consultants violated the tender requirement that bidders should not be blacklisted by any agency.

However, KIAL took the stand that the consultancy company was competent enough to handle the assignment. The High Court proceeded to issue notices to the Kerala Government and KIAL and has posted the case for further hearing.

Following this, the airport company’s agreement with the blacklisted company was cancelled. The state government had also raised queries as to how the consultancy deal was approved by KIAL. Thulasidas, who had a long stint as Chairman and Managing Director of India’s national carrier, Air India, was not available for comment.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/thulasid...l-on-tuesday-says-minister/289774-60-116.html
Thulsidas played a key role in making AI much worser than it was.... He is not in anyway competent to be a prestigious project like KIAL.... Its better for govt to accept his resignation...

I wish to see Krishnadas- former CIAL MD and ex-HAL Chairman as the new MD of KIAL... He is a man of ideas, vision and leadership, much similar to V.J Kurien. He can surely take Kannur to next level......
 
#259 ·
Kannur’s airport dreams may be delayed


The commencement of work on the fourth airport in the State in Kannur is likely to be delayed following the row over the selection of the project consultant and the subsequent resignation of the managing director (MD) of Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL).

Special Officer for Kannur airport and MD of KIAL V. Thulasidas has submitted his papers in the wake of an adverse media report against him and his colleagues following the cancellation of the consultancy agreement with Mumbai-based STUP Consultants Pvt Ltd.

The agreement signed with STUP, appointing it as the project consultant, was cancelled after it was found that the RFP (request for proposal) conditions had been violated by the Indo-French consortium.

Mr. Thulasidas, former chairman and managing director of Air India, submitted his resignation to Minister for Ports and Airports K. Babu after announcing that fresh bids would be invited for selecting the project consultant.

He has also written to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy citing the reasons for his decision.

COST FACTOR

Sources told The Hindu that the project consultant agreement for Rs.14.3 crore was signed with STUP after a transparent bidding process and as per the guidelines of the Planning Commission when Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) had demanded Rs.105 crore for the same.

Though a decision on the resignation will be taken only this week, the sudden developments will affect the work on the airport.

STUP has already approached the High Court of Kerala challenging the cancellation of the agreement with KIAL.

Sources said the government was putting pressure on Mr. Thulasidas to continue in the post as it wanted to use his expertise in the aviation field.

The resignation of Mr. Thulasidas and decision to call for fresh bids to select the project consultant will come up at the board meeting scheduled in Kochi on Tuesday.

The cancellation of the agreement came after it was found that STUP was blacklisted by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board when it submitted bids for the Kannur project.

In May, KIAL had asked CIAL to revise the detailed project report (DPR) in the wake of the technical flaws in the DPR. Sources said this had invited the wrath of the CIAL. CIAL was entrusted with the task of preparing the DPR after the Airports Authority of India failed to give the report in time.

Sources said CIAL was yet to submit the revised DPR. With all this, the plans to operate the first flight from Kannur by 2014 had run into rough weather.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article3878168.ece
 
#260 ·
Court notice to government, KIAL


Cancellation of consultancy agreement signed with STUP Consultants

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the State government and Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) on a writ petition filed by STUP Consultants Private Limited challenging KIAL’s action in cancelling the consultancy agreement signed with the company for the construction of the airport.

Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair also directed the State government and KIAL to file an affidavit in response to the writ petition within two weeks.

When the petition came up for hearing, counsel for the petitioner pleaded for staying the cancellation order. However, Additional Advocate-General K.A. Jaleel opposed the plea of the petitioner and submitted that STUP had obtained the contract, suppressing the fact that the Punjab government had blacklisted the company. He said the relevant documents would have to be collected from the Punjab government.

STUP contended that no sufficient opportunity had been accorded for the company to explain its stand before the agreement was cancelled.

It was only given two days, including a Sunday, to reply to a show cause notice issued by KIAL. It would have explained about blacklisting of the company with the support of documents, had it got sufficient time. Therefore, there was violation of the principles of natural justice.

It argued that though the Punjab government had blacklisted the company in 2007, the government agencies in Punjab continued to award it various projects. In fact, it still enjoyed the status of an empanelled consultant. According to the petitioner, debarring the company from taking up any project was bad in law.

The agreement had been scrapped after KIAL found that the company obtained the contract after misrepresenting the fact relating to eligibility norms.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article3886604.ece
 
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