Defence Ministry gives security clearance for Vizhinjam port

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Defence Ministry has given security clearance for two companies that had bid for developing the Vizhinjam International Deepsea Container Terminal near here.

Defence Minister A K Antony informed Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and state Port Minister K Babu about this in a letter, an official press release said here today.

The Kerala cabinet had shortlisted Mundara Port and a consortium led by Welspun for awarding the contract early this month, after these companies qualified in their technical bid.

With Centre giving security clearance, financial bid of these companies would be examined before finally awarding the contract, officials said.

The government's aim was to start the project's Rs 4010 crore first phase construction work in few months and it expected to flag-off the first container ship from the new terminal in 2015.