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Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has received only two technical bids for barge transportation of coal along the 1000-km long stretch (between Sagar Island/Haldia, West Bengal, and Barh, Bihar) of the 1620-km long National Waterway No 1 (NW 1). The bidders are Jindal ITF and a consortium of two firms, namely, M Pallonji & Company Pvt Ltd and Goa-based Sociedade de Fomento Industrial Pvt Ltd.
The bids, invited in April this year, were opened on Tuesday, after several extensions of last dates. The job involves transportation of three million tons of imported coal annually for a period of 10 years for NTPC’s Barh super thermal power plant still to start generation.
IWAI, inquiries reveal, is likely to invite price bids within a month or so. Once finalised, the bids will be placed before NTPC for the award of the contract to the successful bidder. If everything progresses as planned, the award of the contract, it is felt, should be possible by the end of the year.
The transportation has to start within three years from the date of the award of the contract, it is learnt. Hopefully, the Barh project will be ready by that time to receive imported coal by river route. The foundation stone for the project was laid in March 1999 by the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
It might be noted that the contract for barge movement of coal between Sagar Island/Haldia and Farakka(560 kms and also on the NW 1) for NTPC’s Farakka super thermal power plant in West Bengal was awarded more than two years ago with the stipulation to start movement within two years. That has not happened. More than two years have passed since the award of the contract but the movement is yet to start.
There have been several postponements of the commissioning date. The trial run, it is understood, is now being planned in October. Jindal ITF has been awarded the contract for transporting by barges three million tons of imported coal annually for seven years.
>santanu.sanyal@thehindu.co.in
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