The Hindu Business Line : Ministry invites EoIs for Bengal deep-sea port

Development plans
A sum of Rs 10 crore has been allocated for the project
National security consideration to be kept in mind while short-listing bidders for EoI

Kolkata , June 5

The Shipping Ministry has invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from reputed consultants from all over the world for development of a deep-sea port on the coastline of West Bengal. The draft targeted for the proposed port will be not less than 16.5 metres.

Earlier, the Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, while presenting the Union Budget for 2006-07, had announced the Government's plan to appoint a consultant to examine the feasibility of a deep-sea port in West Bengal. A sum of Rs 10 crore has been allocated for the purpose.

First phase

As per the Government's recent notification in this regard, the selected consultant or the consortium as the case may be, will be associated with the project right from the beginning, i.e. from the selection of the location, preparation of the detailed project report till the commissioning of the port.

The consultancy will be in phases. In the first phase, the consultant has to identify a suitable location after taking into consideration various factors such as availability of draft, various marine, meteorological, hydrographic, morphological, hydrological, geotechnical, topographical and other parameters, dredging requirement and hinterland connectivity by rail and road.

Second phase

In the second phase, the consultant has to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) covering a wide gamut of issues such as traffic projections for 20 years after assessing the market potential, profiles of types of ships likely to call at the port depending on the types of cargoes to be handled, environmental analysis, particularly relating to hazardous cargo, pollution control measures, the use of information technology and financial analysis covering cost estimates of marine works, port works such as breakwaters, quay structures, onshore facilities, operational facilities including types of equipment to be required, maintenance cost and viability analysis including sensitivity analysis.

Final phase

In the final phase, i.e. after the DPR has been approved by the competent authority, the consultant has to assist the implementing authority in preparation and evaluation of tenders and in selection of contractors. Also, the consultant has to supervise and monitor during construction of the project for successful implementation.

Any firm, or the lead partner in the case of consortium, having to its credit the record of successful implementation of a port or port terminal project of not less than Rs 500 crore in the past five years, will be considered eligible for bidding for the job. The last date for submitting response is July 31, 2006.

Security consideration

However, national security consideration will be kept in view while short-listing bidders for EoI and also at subsequent stages.

The proposal for deep-sea port in West Bengal owes its origin to a high-level delegation sent by the West Bengal Government to China in November last year. The delegation, comprising the State's Commerce & Industry Minister, Mr Nirupam Sen; the Commerce & Industry Secretary, Mr Sabyasachi Sen; and the Deputy Chairman of Haldia dock, Mr M.L. Meena, visited the Yangashan deep-sea port near Shanghai and were impressed.

Mr Meena then prepared a report suggesting the need for examining the scope of a similar port for West Bengal. The report was accepted by the West Bengal Government, which forwarded it to the Union Government with strong recommendation.