The Hindu Business Line : Five firms in race for JNPT expansion project

FIVE companies, including two foreign consultancy firms, are in the race for the contract to undertake techno-economic feasibility study for the Rs 3,000-crore expansion project of Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

The port's expansion programme envisages setting up of a fourth container terminal and a marine-chemical terminal through private participation on a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) basis.

The port, which is planning to step on the gas to prepare the ground for implementation of the expansion project, is likely to finalise the successful bidder at its next board meeting, scheduled later this month. The five companies in the race are the UK-based Scot Wilson, French company Stup, L&T Ramboll, Howe India and Consultancy Engineering Services. "After the board's nod, we will submit the proposal to the Ministry for final approval. After this, the consultant will have to submit their report within six months," a JNPT official said.

Apart from these two projects, the port is also keen on hastening the implementation of the already-delayed Rs 1,240-crore channel-deepening project, seeking Government's financial participation. JNPT has suggested that the Government convert the outstanding interest on the loans that the port had earlier taken into equity for quick implementation of the project. After retiring a bulk of the loans, JNPT still has an interest outstanding of Rs 727 crore payable to the Government.

The port will be now sharpening its focus on the fourth container terminal, as work on the third terminal has started. The berth will be adding a container handling capacity of 1.32 million TEUs to the port.

The port handled a total traffic of 32.41 million tonnes (including container, bulk and liquid cargoes) in 2004 as against 29.90 mt in 2003. The two container terminals at the port — JNPCT and the P&O-operated NSICT — handled 2.36 million TEUs in 2004, as against 2.17 million TEUs in 2003.

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