The Hindu : Goshree: tenders to be opened today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Goshree: tenders to be opened today

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MARCH 29. The Goshree Island Development Authority (GIDA) had sold 15 forms for the sale of the land reclaimed by it under the Goshree project till Monday, when the process of calling for tenders came to an end. The tenders will be opened at the District Collector's camp office tomorrow at 4 p.m.

Around 53.54 acres are available for sale near Tatapuram in the city. The land has been divided into eight portions. GIDA had prepared the tender guidelines after fixing the basic price for each portion of the land. The basic price for one cent has been fixed in the range of Rs. 1.74 lakh to Rs. 2.61 lakh.

Tender forms were available at GIDA office near the Subhash Bose Park and at branches of all banks that are in the consortium of banks led by the Union Bank of India till 3 p.m. today.

It is learnt that GIDA expects to mobilise around Rs. 105 crores through floating of tenders for the sale of the reclaimed land. A total of Rs. 84 crores had to be remitted to the banks including interest till March 2005 for the construction of the Goshree bridges. The remaining amount will be utilised for the development of the islands.

Around 40 bidders had turned up at the pre-bid meet conducted by GIDA for the sale of the reclaimed land on March 15. Several leading companies in the construction and real estate sectors had attended the meet. GIDA had floated global tenders for the land in mid-February. Several Government agencies had also shown interest in purchasing the land at Tatapuram.

The Coast Guard and Department of Oceanography had also expressed interest for buying plots in the area. The general council of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) had also approved a proposal for participating in the tenders for the GIDA land. The pre-bid meeting was organised to clear doubts regarding the bidding procedures in connection with the sale of the reclaimed land.

According to sources, the authority had plans to develop the land as an extension of the Marine Drive. GIDA's attempt to float tenders for the reclaimed land in February 2003, had failed after the Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) claimed rights for the land. The reclaimed land is near the Tatapuram factory of the HLL. The dispute was solved after HLL was allowed access through the land to the backwaters.

GIDA had appointed a consultancy agency to study the sale prospects.

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