Kerala will float a global tender this month to find a partner for about Rs 4,500 crore development project of the Azhicode port in Kannur district, a state minister told the Assembly on Friday.
The project, expected to cost Rs 4,500 crore, would give a boost to economic and trade activities in the northern region of the state, Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem said.
The state government decided to go for joint venture as the port needed dredging to facilitate big ships to berth, he said. Plan was to have a wharf to unload coal meant for thermal power plant coming up at nearby Cheemani, he said.
Land acquisition process for the port development was progressing. For rail connectivity, an amount of Rs 5 crore have been earmarked, he said.
Already work on a 226 feet new wharf has been completed, he said.