HONG KONG: The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to accept the bid of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited for the construction and operation of the proposed Vizhinjam container transshipment port on PPP model. The decision to grant the project to Adani Group was taken disregarding the objection from CPI (M)-led Opposition.
Adani Group was the lone bidder for the project, which had no takers in the previous rounds of tendering. Last week, the government had convened an all-party meeting after the Opposition raised doubts about the PPP model and hurled corruption charges at the government.
The CPI (M) had alleged that the government was handing over land worth Rs 6000 crore to Adani Group. The CPI (M) had questioned the government’s reluctance to go for a re-tendering of the project when Adani Group was the lone.
Meanwhile, Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari had stated that the project might be moved to Colachel in Tamil Nadu if the political differences in the state over awarding the project to the Adani group is not resolved fast. The Union Minister’s stand also prompted the Kerala Government not to delay the final decision.
