Kolkata port gets 30 bids for 20 mt second dock complex at Haldia

ABHISHEK LAW , PRATIM RANJAN BOSE
THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE
KOLKATA, JULY 3:
The Kolkata Port Trust has received 30 bids for developing the 20-million-tonne second dock complex at Haldia.

The dock complex is expected to be complete and operational by the end of 2013-14.

Referred as Haldia Dock II (commonly called Shalukkhali), the new dock system will be set up through the public-private partnership at an estimated investment of Rs 2,000 crore. According to KoPT sources, some of the bidders, who have submitted request for quotations, include a consortium of Transstroy-OJSC, Vadinar Oil Terminal Ltd, Megha Engineering, Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure, Gammon India, JSW Infrastructure and Jindal ITF.

Short-listing of candidates for the next round of bidding (request for proposals) is expected to begin soon.

“We hope to shortlist the prospective candidates by September this year. Concession agreements are expected to be signed end of this fiscal,” the acting Chairman of Kolkata port, Mr Manish Jain, told Business Line.

INVESTMENTS

According to Mr Jain, the new dock complex will be developed in two parts – Haldia Dock II North and Haldia Dock II South.

Each part will have two berths, one mechanised and the other multipurpose.

Berths will have a capacity of around five million tonnes.

The port authorities have obtained around 160 acres of land from the state government for setting up the port, officials said.

Kolkata port will invest nearly Rs 450 crore to set up a 10 km rail network and marine infrastructure within the port.

Land for setting up the rail connectivity is to be provided by the Haldia Development Authority (HAD) – the urban local body in the region - soon.