The Hindu Business Line : Orissa may soon find operator for lighterage port at Gopalpur

Five parties have been shortlisted at the moment, based on their response to the Orissa Government's call for expression of interest, and Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), consultants for finalisation of the bid process, has sought a further 90 days time from the State Government (beginning April 29) for submitting their views, including the bankability of the project.

Even as the process has been set in motion through short-listing of the five parties, informed sources point out that a mandate may soon be given to Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd to act as the State Transport Department's marketing advisor in the selection process.

Talking to Business Line from Bhubaneswar, Ms Rajalakshmi, Principal Secretary, Commerce & Transport, Orissa Government, said: "We expect to finalise the matter by end-July". She confirmed that following a pre-bid meeting on April 29, five parties had shown interest, and finalisation of the bid document and concession agreement for the strategic operator for the minor port would be completed by early August. She said RITES was providing the State with a monthly report on the progress of the bid process.

Citing Gopalpur as a fair weather lighterage port, which is operational only from October to March each year, she said it was handling cargo such as fertilisers, foodgrains and minerals, earning on average around Rs 3 crore annually.

The strategic operator, once selected, will have to enter into an MoU with the State Government on the agreed terms and conditions.

Of the five parties that evinced interest, BHP-Billiton and Malaysia's Integrax Burhart intend to develop the port on their own, while L&T, IL&FS and Orissa Stevedores Ltd plan to form a consortium with one or two partners.

Orissa has only one major all weather port at Paradip, with another being developed at Dhamra, north of Paradip, jointly by Tata Steel and L&T as a private enterprise.

Since the Dhamra venture would be a captive one for meeting the existing as well as the future requirements of Tata Steel, the Orissa Government is keen to develop Gopalpur as an all weather port. Trade sources aver that the plan to set commercial operations year-round at an all weather port in Gopalpur would provide further export opportunities to entrepreneurs of the State.

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