MEGAPROJECT: Vizhinjam Container Transshipment Terminal | Under Development

[sajith]

Two companies, Welspun Consortium and Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone (MPSEZ), have submitted bids to be a partner in developing and operating the Vizhinjam international seaport near Thiruvananthapuram. After opening the financial bids, the government will select the private partner for the project.

Although the state government had extended the time for submitting the bid, Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) did not submit the bid. Earlier, SCI had shown interest in the project, leading the government to extend the last date to August 16.

Fourteen companies expressed interest in the project and 12 were selected to submit the technical and financial bids. Ahemadabad-based MPSEZ, an Adani group company, runs Mundra port, the largest private sector port in the country. Welspun, a Mumbai-based company is a consortium of Welspun Infratech, Welspun Corporation and Leighton Welspun Contractors.

The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport is proposed to follow landlord port model, where dredging, reclamation and basic infrastructure like construction of break-water and quay will be done by Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited, a fully owned by the government company.

The operation of the port will be on PPP model. The terminal superstructure will be built by private operator who will also operate and maintain it for 30 years. The port will have a quay length of 2,000 meters in three phases. It will be designed to cater primarily for container transhipments besides multi-purpose and break bulk cargo.

The port development along with the external infrastructure work is envisaged to be carried out in phases with the cumulative cost estimated to be around Rs 6,595 crore.

The construction of basic civil infrastructure namely dredging, land reclamation, construction of breakwaters and quay wall, as also land acquisition, road and rail connectivity and other external infrastructure required in phase I is estimated to cost Rs 3,040 crore.

The project would be funded through Rs 1,130 crore as equity from the state government and the balance is to be raised as debt through loans from banks / institutions and through bonds.

Courtesy-Business standard
http://www.business-standard.com/ind...roject/446127/

[Tri Man]

Originally Posted by sajith

Two companies, Welspun Consortium and Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone (MPSEZ), have submitted bids to be a partner in developing and operating the Vizhinjam international seaport near Thiruvananthapuram.

Fourteen companies expressed interest in the project and 12 were selected to submit the technical and financial bids. Ahemadabad-based MPSEZ, an Adani group company, runs Mundra port, the largest private sector port in the country. Welspun, a Mumbai-based company is a consortium of Welspun Infratech, Welspun Corporation and Leighton Welspun Contractors.
[/URL]

Is this the same Welspun - Textile and Wind Mill Manufacturer ?

[Rajesh SM]

Originally Posted by Tri Man

Is this the same Welspun - Textile and Wind Mill Manufacturer ?

Tri-Man,

Welspun is a Rs 15,000 crore BSE listed giant which have interest in many sectors like Line pipes, Oil & Gas, Steel, retails, Textiles etc across the globe. On the other hand their partner Leighton is a leading infrastructure major in airports, ports, offshore etc

[ajithv]

Source : Malayala Manorama

[Sarin Tarun]

image hosted on flickr


Nothing mentioned about VISL (future potential).

[ajithv]

Source : Malayala Manorama

[Rajeev_gs]

Originally Posted by ajithv

Source : Malayala Manorama

Superb!!!

[ajithv]

Source : Metro Vaartha

[ajithv]

Source : Metro Vaartha

[Varun2011]

Good news!Thanks Ajith for the update.

[jaguarss]

Hope Vizhinjam can find place here:

http://articles.economictimes.indiat...aritime-agenda

[ajithv]

Source : Malayala Manorama

[krishnachand]

Why my post got deleted about yesudas speaking abt vizhinjam?Is it against the rules of forum or what?

[Ajaypp]

Originally Posted by krishnachand

Why my post got deleted about yesudas speaking abt vizhinjam?Is it against the rules of forum or what?

I have no idea why that happened. There is no reason why a news report should not be quoted on here. Here you go.

World-famous Singer, Dr. K.J. Yesudas talks about the Vizhinjam project on Manorama News.



The fact that people from all walks of life are now passionately supporting the project shows the ground swell of public opinion in favor of this project, something that the politicians would do well in not ignoring.

[krishnachand]

Thanks Ajay for posting again!

[DileepKS]

Here is the good resolution clip

[krishnachand]

Thanks Dileep for the better video...

[Rajeev_gs]

Very Good Article

'Vizhinjam Is The Future Of Trivandrum'If the International container terminal becomes a reality, then Trivandrum could well be on top of the list of important cities in India says S Sasikumar | By Mukesh VenuOn Sep 20, 2011


Anyone residing in the city of Trivandrum could feel that buzz in the air – the buzz of this city being on the verge of a major overhaul in terms of infrastructure, economy, growth and development, to propel itself forward to being one among the leading cities in India both in terms of size and importance.

S Sasikumar of ‘Kumar Groups’ design consultancy firm, has got years of experience drawing out projects that has changed the face of the city. In an exclusive chat with Yentha, he talks about the upcoming projects envisaged for the Trivandrum city, the potential that the city holds for becoming a major metropolis, and about the factors that are to be dealt with in taking Trivandrum to that coveted spot of being a metropolitan city.

The first project that this senior architect talks about is the Enchakkal bus terminal for long distance buses. The bus terminal at Enchakal is to come up on 5 acres of land, at an estimated cost of Rs.40 crores.







Proposed Thampanoor Bus Station Layout






“The terminal would have separate sections for arrival and departure,” Sasikumar explains. “The departure section will have provisions to handle 18 buses at a time, all long distance buses, as the short ones would continue to arrive and depart from the existing stations at Thampanoor. Of the 18 platforms, 10 would be for inter-district buses and 8 for inter-state buses. The arrival section has been designed to handle 8 buses at a time.”

This ultra-modern bus terminal would present a radically different picture when compared to the present bus stations in the state. “Entry to the platforms would be limited only to passengers. That would reduce the crowding and prevent anti-social elements from raising their ugly heads. The terminal building is to be a three-floored, with 2 floors set apart for shops. The basement parking area will accommodate 160 four wheelers and 160 two wheelers at a time. Lodging facilities for arriving passengers have also been planned at this new terminal.”

Another ambitious project being designed by 'Kumar Groups' on behalf of the city corporation is the eight-storyed commercial complex set to come up at S S Kovil Road, funded by the Kerala State Industries Enterprises. The project is to be set on an acre of land that has already been identified and acquired for the project.

“This complex would consist of shopping malls, office spaces and a business hotel. Thampanoor, despite being the entry point for most of the people arriving in the city on business, is yet to have a functioning business hotel to accommodate them. That would be rectified as soon as this complex comes up.”

This project too is to be built with an estimated budget of Rs.40 crores. But Sasikumar points out that it would be money well spent since the present chaotic situation at Thampanoor can be solved only by the development of S S Kovil Road.





Tagore Theatre Proposal






“In the present system, buses arriving from the Parassala – Nagercoil side head straight beyond the Thampanoor circle and then turn left, cutting through the traffic coming from the opposite direction to enter the bus stand.That causes acute traffic blocks, not to mention the possibility of accidents. What should be done instead is to have those buses go around the circle and head straight to the Model School Jn, turn left towards Housing Board Jn and then turn left again to reach the terminus through the S SKovil road. But S S Kovil road, with its present condition cannot handle that kind of vehicular traffic. So the development of that road attains primary importance.”




But Trivandrum needs something huge to propel her to the level of other metros like Chennai and Bangalore. And Sasikumar has got but one answer to what that 'something huge' shoud be...

“Obviously it is the Vizhinjam container terminal. The impact that the coming of that harbour would have on the infrastructure of this entire city is way beyond what is being fathomed. If that container terminal becomes a reality, within 10 years Trivandrum would grow three times of what it is at present.”
Image Courtesy: commons.wikimedia.org






But at the same time, Sasikumar is critical about the way that the government is proceeding with the project.“Right now they are asking for some private company to build that harbour and give it to the government. That is a big folly - how can a foreign private company know about the needs of the people here. There are many things that have to be carried out alongside the building of that harbour. Proper road and rail connectivity has to be established. The N H by-pass has to be broadened. The town of Vizhinjam has to be replanned and relaid; and each requires a separate company specialising in those separate requirements. The government should draw out a detailed report, pass the tender to individual companies and oversee the entire work as a whole, rather than entrusting it all to one private company, which only has its eye on profits and cares nothing about the progress of this city.”







Tagore Theatre Proposal




When asked about the proposed Mono Rail for the city, Sasikumar had this to say: “It is a good thing that they have started planning for one. Right now, with the current population in Trivandrum city, a Mono Rail would be an accessory far too much for the city. A metro rail system can be efficient and economical only if the city has a population of about 3 – 4 million, or more. The population of Trivandrum stands around the 1 million mark as of now. But there would be a need for the Mono Rail by say 2020 or 2025. So instead of talking about it then, it is better to move forward with a detailed plan in hand.”

Trivandrum besides being the southernmost capital city, has a strategic importance in the list of cities in India, having, an airforce base, International airport and being the closest city to the International shipping route. But at present Trivandrum does not have a place among the primary cities in India, according to Sasikumar.

“The cities in India can be dividedinto four tiers. To the first tier belong the biggest cities with historical importance like Delhi or Mumbai. The 2nd tier belongs to metros that rose into prominence recently, like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune. Trivandrum belongs to the third tier and it is an important city on that tier. But if the Vizhinjam project turns into a reality, within the next fifteen years, this city would become a major player amongst the 2nd tier cities, and probably even make it into the first tier. Such is the scope that this one project has. It can change the very landscape of the entire city.Trivandrum would no longer be a small noisy town with bustling traffic,but would be an internationally recognised metropolis, which could indeed be the new gateway to the country. Vizhinjam is the future of Trivandrum,” he concludes.

Source : - http://www.yentha.com/news/view/4/13920

[Ajaypp]

Originally Posted by Rajeev_gs

Very Good Article

With all due respect to Mr Sasikumar, whom I am personally acquainted with, it is pretty obvious that he is very much out of touch with the current execution structure of the Vizhinjam project or the fact that rail-road connectivity work is already in progress. He seems to have an out-of-date impression of the population of the Capital, which zipped past the 1 Million mark a while ago.

Perhaps, it is because he has been away from Trivandrum a lot of late.

[Viveks]

http://wp.me/p1Mzly-bi