Controversial Chinese company out of Mumbai sea link project

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, March 13

A controversial Chinese company with links to Pakistan has withdrawn from Bandra-Versova Sea Link project after it became clear that the central government would not give it security clearance to operate off the Indian coast.

According to state government sources, the company, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, indicated that it was backing off the project earlier this week.

CHECL in partnership with Soma Enterprises Limited was pre-qualified for constructing the Bandra-Versova sea link.

Expressions of interest from Chinese companies in projects along India's coast has become a cause for concern for the Indian security establishment. 

Recently, China Gezhouba Group Company Ltd entered the fray to build a coastal road in Mumbai. However the central government is yet to give it security clearance for operating in India. 

Both CHECL and CGGCL are owned by the Chinese government and are involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project, according to sources here.

The Chinese companies are known to bid aggressively in infrastructure projects. However, the Indian government has denied them security clearance in the past.

Officials say CHECL and CGGCL would obtain unfettered access to the Western coast and come into possession of sensitive siesmic and other data if they were to bag any of these projects.