Date for inking Kerala port deal to be announced on Monday

The date for signing an agreement with Adani Ports for building the proposed Vizhinjam Port will be decided on Monday, a Kerala minister said here on Saturday.

"We are ready to receive them (Adani Ports officials). In the meeting with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the date of signing the agreement with Adani Ports will be finalised," Minister for Ports and Excise K. Babu told IANS.

The Kerala government this week handed over an offer letter to Adani Ports to build the port.

The Rs.4,000-crore first phase of the port is to come up near the famed tourist destination Kovalam. The first phase would be ready by 2019.

Adani Ports was the lone bidder and has sought Rs.1,635 crore as grant for the project. - IANS