A first-of-its-kind oceanarium is set to be launched in Kochi as a major tourism attraction soon. The public private partnership (PPP) project is an initiative of Kerala's Fisheries Resource Management Society (FIRMA) and will be set up on 40 acres of government land at Puthuvype, near here.
The government has engaged Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (KSIDC) as bid manager for the project. The project envisages setting up a state-of-the-art fourth generation oceanarium and aims to create awareness about marine environment and biodiversity.
The proposed oceanarium would offer unique underwater experience by showcasing aquarium alley, deep-sea tunnel, polar pavilion, shark tank, touch tank and other entertainment facilities.
A consortium of Mahindra Consulting Engineers Limited and Jacques RougerieArchitecte France has completed the detailed feasibility report and has also undertaken conceptual design of the project.
The project with an estimated cost of Rs 350 crore would be rolled out on Design, Built, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis through a competitive bidding process.
The first stage of the selection process involves qualification of bidders in accordance with the provisions of Request for Qualification (RFQ). KSIDC will soon release the RFQ in order to shortlist applicants for awarding the project through competitive bidding process, a KSIDC press release said.