The VOC Port Authority’s Rs 70.56 billion outer harbour project has once again faced a setback, with the latest tender process cancelled due to the absence of qualified bidders. This marks the second failed attempt to secure participation for the mega infrastructure initiative.

The tender has reportedly been withdrawn from the active list of bids, and the authority is now expected to re-evaluate and possibly restructure the project to enhance its appeal to potential developers.

The port authority had initially floated the Request for Proposal (RFP) in December 2024, following the cancellation of the first round which had received applications from only two entities—Vedanta and Premier Science and Technology—both of whom were later disqualified.

To attract more interest in the second round, eligibility conditions were revised to allow broader participation. However, the modifications failed to yield the desired response.

The project, proposed on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model, includes extensive dredging and breakwater construction. It aims to add a handling capacity of 4 million TEUs annually in two phases. The lack of participation now casts uncertainty over the timeline and future course of one of the port’s most ambitious expansions.

News source: News on Projects