The Kochi Port has received encouraging response for its proposal to develop a general cargo terminal at the Ernakulam Wharf.

As many as seven private firms have responded to the call for Request for Qualification (RFQ) to develop the facility at Q-8 and Q-9 berths of the port.

The firms that had responded for the RFQ included Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, Ahmedabad; IVRCL Ltd, Hyderabad; Consortium of Welspun Infratech Ltd, Mumbai; and Leighton Welspun Contractors, Mumbai.

A pre-bid meeting before the issue of Request for Proposal documents is expected to be held within 20 days. The project, estimated to cost nearly Rs 450 crore, is being planned on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer basis with a concession period of 30 years. The terminal capacity is 10 million tonnes per annum.

The port authorities had invited RFQ’s in January this year and applications were received from various companies by February 15.

According to port officials, the development of a general cargo berth is at the centre of the plans by the management to augment revenue after container handling facility at Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal was taken over by DP World and shifted to the new international terminal at Vallarpadam.

The port is focussing on developing the berths as a major general cargo consolidation centre in the south. The advantage is that these berths have the proximity of the channel of 12.5 metres draft and rail sidings.

Besides, the port is also in the process of procuring several cargo handling equipments to facilitate higher productivity and faster turnaround of ships, the officials added.

sajeevkumar.v@thehindu.co.in

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