Kerala plans world's deepest port

Thursday, 02 December 2004, 20:30 IST
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THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Six companies have expressed interest to construct the Vizhinjam port near Kovalam in Kerala on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis, Ports Minister M.V. Raghavan said Thursday. "Of these two are foreign companies and the rest Indian companies," Raghavan said. "The last date for submission of expression of interest is Dec 20. We will then take it from there." Vizhinjam port's natural depth will be 24 metres, which some officials say will make it the world's deepest. Ports like New York, Southampton, Singapore, Dubai, Colombo and Hong Kong are only 15 meters deep and require dredging. The government has set up two committees and last week formed a special company for the purpose. The port will be built in an area of 150 acres. "The government will have a 24 percent stake in the port, and the rest will belong to the company that secures the contract," said the minister. The first phase, to be completed in four years, would cost 16 billion ($360 million). The total cost was expected to be 50 billion ($1 billion), Raghavan said.
Source: IANS