The board of Cochin Port Trust (CoPT) has approved the RfQ documents submitted by nine companies for the proposed Rs.2,000 crore Vallarapadam International Transshipment Terminal. The last date for submission of price bids is 25 March 2004.

It may be recalled that 14 companies submitted RfQ documents out of which nine companies were shortlisted for the purpose of submitting price bids. The nine companies in question are Dubai Port International, Maersk of Denmark, P&O Ports, International Container Services Inc of Manila, PSA Adani Pte of Singapore, Adani Exports, Larsen & Toubro, IL&FS-Punj Lloyd Consortium and ACT Shipping Consortium.

The project would come up on BOT basis and the Centre has offered assistance in the form of viability gap-funding for creating common user infrastructure facilities like road and rail connectivity and providing breakwaters, at a total cost of Rs.932 crore.

The successful bidder will be handed over operations of the existing Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal before work on the proposed new terminal at Vallarpadam begins.

The price bids will be discussed during the CoPT board meeting on 27 March 2004, and the board's decision will be then communicated to the Centre. The entire tendering process is targeted for completion by 31 March 2004.