Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has invited bids for mechanised handling of containerised cargo at three out of the 12 berths in the Netaji Subhas Dock (NSD) of Kolkata port.
Of the three, two are operated by ABG Kolkata Terminal Pvt Ltd — a joint venture of ABG Infralogistics and PSA — through a 10-year contract that is scheduled to end in November 2014.
Though the existing contract (with ABG) has a clause for renewal, apparently KoPT is interested in entering into a fresh contract.
Market sources feel ABG’s strained relationship with the KoPT — following its exit from bulk cargo handling at the Haldia dock complex last year — has a bearing on the port authority’s apparent disinterest in renewing contracts in Kolkata dock system.
An ABG official confirmed that the current contract had provision for renewal on expiry in November 2014. “According to our contract provisions, our performance remained satisfactory for the last nine years,” he added.
R. P. S. Kahlon, Chairman, KoPT, was not available for a comment. According to a KoPT spokesperson, bids were invited for a 10-year contract for mechanised container handling at berths No 4, 5 and 8 of NSD at the Kolkata Dock System.
While the bids have to be submitted by December 3, port authorities have called for a pre-bid techno-commercial conference on November 15.
ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in