The Hindu Business Line : 14 cos submit tenders for Chennai port biz development plan

The plan will establish goals to be achieved over the next seven years to satisfy this vision, identify the strategy to be followed to reach these goals, recommend a detailed plan of action to implement the strategy and identify sources of financing for all proposed investments.

Chennai , Feb. 9

FOURTEEN companies have submitted tenders for the development of a business plan for the Chennai port.

Three foreign companies have directly submitted their tenders and two have tied up with Indian companies. There are nine India-based companies in the fray, according to a Chennai Port Trust source.

Tata Consultancy Services has joined hands with Rotterdam Maritime Group and Stratagem Inc (Mumbai) has bid on behalf of BMT Asia Pacific, Singapore.

The other multinationals are Portia Management Service Ltd, UK; Arthur D. Little, Malaysia; and Rogge Marine Consulting GmbH, Germany.

The India-based companies are: Ion Exchange, Transcare India, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India, Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick (India), KPMG Advisory Services, Consulting Engineering Services (I), Halcrow Group Ltd, Haskoning India and i-maritime Consultancy, the source said.

A letter was sent to all the bidders communicating that technical bids would be opened on February 3. However, due to administrative reasons the opening of technical bids has been deferred and the actual date will be informed at a later day.

The consultants will prepare a business plan that will define the port's long-term vision. The plan will establish goals to be achieved over the next seven years to satisfy this vision, identify the strategy to be followed to reach these goals, recommend a detailed plan of action to implement the strategy and identify sources of financing for all proposed investments.

International consultants intending to submit their offer to undertake the assignment should have completed at least three assignments outside their home country in the preceding five years. They should have performed at least three assignments involving development of business plan for ports — at least one of which was in a developing country. They should have experience in coordinating and managing assignments involving multiple consulting firms, says the tender.