Cochi: Kerala proposes to ask the Union government to take over development of the Rs5,340 crore container trans-shipment terminal at Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram, after Lanco Infratech Ltd said late Wednesday it was walking out of the contract.
The Assembly on Thursday witnessed a rare consensus over the Vizhinjam International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) project with both the Opposition and the ruling front unanimously taking a stand that any controversy at this stage would ultimately hamper the project.
However, both sides did not seem to have had any formula for the speedy implementation of the project. The rare camaraderie between the Opposition and the ruling front was witnessed during the notice for adjournment motion moved by P.C.George of the Kerala Congress (Secular) on the serious situation following the withdrawal of the consortium led by Lanco Kondappally Power Pvt Ltd from the implementation of the project.
Speaker K.Radhakrishnan rejected the plea for adjournment motion saying that there was no need for discussing the issue after suspending the business, as both the Opposition and the ruling front had similar sentiments on the issue.
Ports Minister M.Vijayakumar, while replying to the notice, wanted the Union Government to take over the project. He also said that any controversy over the issue at this stage would result in a premature death of the project. Any decision on the issue will be taken only after consultation with Opposition parties, he said.
Experts say that Vizhinjam, with a natural depth of 20m, needs no maintenance dredging and has the potential to become India’s deepest container port.
The port, with a back-up area of 150 acres, is also located just 9 nautical miles from the international maritime route.

