Green clearance for Vizhinjam project tender

The Southern bench of the National Green Tribunal has allowed the Kerala Government to go ahead with tenders for the Vizhinjam international seaport and container terminal project. The tribunal made the observation while hearing an appeal challenging the environmental clearance given to the project by the UPA-2 Government. Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), the company that is piloting the project, may proceed with the tender procedures initiated by it to select a port operator. The tribunal has posted the next hearing in the case against the project to 1 July. A consortium of Hyundai and Indian steel industry player Concast is among the five port operators who have responded to the global tender. The others are Gammon Infrastructure, Essar Ports, Adani Ports and a consortium of construction firm Obrascon Huarte Lain and Srei Infrastructure.