The Hindu Business Line : Mumbai port extends RFQ deadline for box terminal

MUMBAI port has launched fresh efforts to woo foreign and domestic terminal operators to invest in the Rs 900-crore offshore container terminal project, which has been in limbo for the past few years due to inadequate response from potential bidders.

As the first step, the Mumbai port has extended the deadline for submission of RFQ (request for qualification) document up to February 14.

"We have also assured the potential bidders that the cost of deepening of the channel to 15 metres at the berth side will not be burdened on them. Also, we are willing to offer container freight station (CFS) space to successful bidders if they want to set up their own CFS," a senior official of the port told Business Line.

Apart from reworking the draft proposal to include a string of benefits to investors, the port organised a pre-bid meeting with potential bidders in Mumbai on Tuesday. Clearly, even the Ministry of Shipping is backing Mumbai port's fresh initiative - the pre-bid meeting was chaired by Mr D.T. Joseph, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping.

Mr Joseph clarified a string of questions raised by potential bidders and described the response as `encouraging'. Over 15 senior representatives of various foreign and Indian port operators, including those of P&O Ports, United Liner Agencies of the JM Baxi Group, Dubai Ports International, Maersk India, Hong Kong-based IHCL, Evergreen Marine Corporation of Taiwan, L&T, ABG Heavy Industries, Adani Port and Afcons, participated in the meeting.

The port will be taking up the offshore container terminal project on BOT basis in two phases — the first phase envisages construction of two berths with a capacity to handle 0.8 million TEUs and the second phase involves construction of a third berth to take up the total capacity to 1.2 million TEUs.

"We will give the first right of refusal to develop the third berth to the successful bidder for the first two berths," a port official said.

The benefits being offered by the port include entitlement to the operator to collect stevedoring charges and to set down its own tariff, subject to approval of Tariff Authority for Major Ports, apart from the port ensuring adequate evacuation facilities.

This is seen by industry analysts as a last ditch attempt by the port to attract terminal operators to the projects.

Its earlier efforts to rope in an investor did not yield the desired results, even while the neighbouring Rs 1,200-crore third container terminal project at Jawaharlal Nehru port had attracted the interests of some of the big names in port terminal operators.

"At least going by the mood of the participants at the pre-bid meeting, we expect a better response this time around," the port official said.

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