The Hindu Business Line : Panel clears Tuticorin Port Trust project

The Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee has cleared a proposal to convert the eighth berth at Tuticorin port as a second container Terminal on build, operate and transfer (BOT) model.

"The committee cleared the project in its last meeting, but we are yet to receive a formal communication. Once we receive the communication, we will issue a tender for Request for Proposals from bidders," Mr N.K. Raghupathy, Chairman, Tuticorin Port Trust, told Business Line.

Container terminal

The port trust plans to convert its eighth berths into a container terminal at a cost of Rs 150 crore. Five companies, including PSA-Sical, Chettinad Logistics, Larsen & Toubro and Dubai Ports, are in the fray for the project, he said.

The committee, on the lines of the Public Investment Board, consists of members from various government departments and scrutinises major public-private partnership projects before implementation.

For the fiscal ending March 31, 2006, the port handled 3.21 lakh TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) compared with 3.07 lakh the previous year - a 4.47 per cent growth. The present private container terminal is operated by PSA-Sical on BOT.