7 companies keen on setting up second berth at Vizag port

Gangavaram port is among the seven companies that have expressed interest in setting up a second container berth at Visakhapatnam port.

The new berth would be set up in a public-private partnership mode and would involve an investment of Rs 300-400 crore, including infrastructure cost.

“We have received seven bids and it will take another two weeks to shortlist the firms. The port will then call for finance bids for qualified companies to set up the second berth,” a senior port official told Business Standard.

Visakhapatnam port already has a container berth, which is being operated by Visakha Container Terminal Private Limited. In view of the future demand, the port has decided to set up a second container berth at the existing terminal and invited request for qualification two months ago.

Gangavaram port already operates a deepwater port near Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

Apart from Gangavaram port, Navayuga Engineering Company, which operates Krishnapatnam port in Nellore district, has also submitted the bid. Other companies include Welspun Projects Limited, Gammon Infrastructure Projects Limited, Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, Simplex Infrastructures Limited and Visakha Container.

However, Visakha Container has the first right of rejection. The company last fiscal handled 4.2 million tonne container cargo at Vizag port as against 2.5 million tonne in the preceding year. During the current year's first six months, it handled 2.3 million tonne.