Page 258 - economic review

INFRASTRUCTURE230

Box 5.6
Latest Status of Vizhinjam Deep Water International Container Transshipment Terminal

• The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Govt. of India have accorded Environmental
Clearance ( EC) & Coastal Regulation Zone ( CRZ) clearance

• It is decided to implement the project through PPP Model by availing maximum Viability Gap
Funding(VGF).

• Total project cost of the project comes to Rs. 5160 /- crores approximately (excluding
external infrastructure cost ie, land purchase, external connectivity, utilities and cost for
environmental management & corporate social responsibility activities etc:)

• It is decided to include Engineering Procurement Contract ( EPC ) work for the construction
of breakwater and associated dredging and any other work essential for the construction of
breakwater and Fish Landing Centre as funded works in the PPP tender ,which the State
would provide the funding .

• The remaining port infrastructure and development works ,ie, the dredging reclamation
container and cruise berths , superstructure and equipment etc. and operation would
be implemented ,availing Viability Gap Funding ,by a Private Developer cum Operator
(Concessionaire ) on a Public Private Partnership ( PPP) basis identified through a global
bidding process for concession period of 40 years , extendable for another 20 years.

• Global notification was issued and five bidders have been shortlisted , pursuant to the
issue of the Request for Qualifications .

• Government of India has sanctioned Viability Gap Fund in principle .
• Regarding land acquisition of the project ,road connectivity, backup, truc.k terminal were

completed ,warehouse nearing completion and rail connectivity to be initiated .Regarding
power ,KSEB works in progress. Work on water supply of three MLD water to the project is
completed. 1.5 MLD of this is being distributed to local public.

Inland Water Transport

5.61 Inland Water Transport is a fuel efficient and environment friendly mode of transportation. India
is richly endowed with navigable waterways, comprising rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc. The
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has been established for the development and regulation
of Inland waterways for shipping and navigation and for related matter. The Inland Waterways
Authority of India Act, 1985, empowers the Government to declare waterways with potential for
development of shipping and navigation as National Waterways .

5.62 State of Kerala is endowed with numerous backwaters and it is one of the State in India,
where waterways are successfully used for commercial Inland Water Transport. The transportation
is mainly done with country craft and passenger vessels. There are 41 navigable rivers in Kerala.
The total length of the Inland Waterways in the State is 1687 Kms. The main arterial waterway
in the state is West Coast Canal. The West Coast Canal connects the Hosdurg in the north to
Thiruvananthapuram – Poovar in the South and is about 590 Km including 47 Km. uncut portion from
Badakara to Azheekal

5.63 The Inland Canals play an important role in the economy of the state as they interconnect the
rivers, on the banks on which are situated places of commercial and industrial importance and also
give a connection from interior places to the West Coast Canal System which can be broadly divided
in to three sections as below,

Kerala State Planning Board