The Kerala ports ministry has received nearly 21 global tenders for the proposed deep-sea container terminal at Vizhinjam. The tenders were floated last month. A committee within the ministry will evaluate the bids within a month and then announce the lowest bidder.
The dredging of Vizhinjam harbour has been inaugurated as part of the terminal's development works, and the ministry has plans to develop at least six harbours out of the 17 in phase-I.
Security clearance is expected in October and the licence will be issued to the selected bidder in November this year. Construction work has to start by December 2008, it is learnt.