According to The Hindu Business Line, the Kochi Port may appoint a third contractor to complete the dredging work at Vallarpadam terminal.

The project was initially awarded to the Jaisu Shipping at a cost of Rs 525 crore.

Since it could not complete the work the port management had terminated the contract in April 2011.

Jaisu Shipping had completed 96 per cent of the work.

To carry out the remaining four per cent work, the job was entrusted to another dredging company, Mercator Line Ltd, in May 2011.

The company was contractually bound to complete the work within four months before September 2011. However, despite giving extensions of nearly eight months, the company could not complete the work.

The port management has now put Mercator on notice giving them a deadline to complete the work failing which the contract would be terminated.

The Hindu Business Line reports that the Kochi Port management is now considering other options including asking Dredging Corporation of India, which already has the maintenance dredging contract with the port, to complete the remaining portion along with the maintenance.