Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has received go ahead from the Centre to set up a second dock complex at Haldia. The project to be developed through private partnership is estimated to cost Rs 2,000 crore.
The public private partnership appraisal committee (PPPAC) approved the project last week. The five-member committee comprises secretaries from the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Planning Commission and the Shipping Ministry.
“The proposed 23.4-million-tonne Haldia dock-II (commonly called Shalukkhali) received PPP appraisal committee’s nod on November 21. Now, we can kick off the process for inviting request for proposal for the estimated Rs 2000-crore project,” a senior KoPT official told
According to the official, the port authorities are likely to invite request for proposal seeking private partnership, in April next year.
KoPT sources had earlier said infrastructure majors like Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure, Gammon India, JSW Infrastructure, a consortium of Transstroy-OJSC, Vadinar Oil Terminal Ltd, Megha Engineering and Jindal ITF had shown interest in the project.
Haldia Dock-II
To be built in two parts – Haldia Dock-II North and Haldia Dock-II South – the project is expected to be commissioned in 2016-17, the official added.
Each section (North and South) will have mechanised and multi-purpose berths (one each) with a capacity to handle 11.7 million tonnes of cargo a year. KOPT has already obtained nearly 160 acres of land for the project from the State Government.
Rail connectivity
According to the official, 90 per cent of the off-port cargo operations will be railway borne. KoPT had earlier said that it would invest nearly Rs 450 crore to set up a 10-km rail network and marine infrastructure within the port.
The port authorities are in talks with the State Government for about 17 acres of additional land for laying rail tracks, he added.