Bengal deep-sea port project a state issue

The Union Ministry of Shipping is no longer involved in the deep-sea port project planned along West Bengal’s coastline, a senior ministry official informed.

Rakesh Srivastava, joint secretary(ports), ministry of shipping said, “The state government wanted to develop the port on its own and the Union ministry is no longer involved now.” He, however, did not want to elaborate further.

The Rs 2,000 crore deep-sea port planned along Bengal’s coastline got the green signal from the Union Government in February 2008, which was listed among the five deep sea ports planned during the Eleventh Five Year Plan. The Centre was keen to appoint consultants to identify the location and study feasibility for the deep draft port.

The state government, on the other hand, wanted to to invite direct bids from the prospective developers for the deep-sea port. The proposal was finally accepted by the Union Ministry last year.

The Ministry’s earlier attempt to get global consultants to recommend a site for the proposed port did not receive any response. No bids were received as consultants demanded a change in terms of reference. The entire process led to a delay of two to three years.

State Industry department officials could not be reached for comment.

Several corporate houses like Videocon, Sajjan Jindal-controlled JSW Group, and Prasoon Mukherjee promoted New Kolkata International Development Pvt Ltd (NKID), which has other business interests in the state, had shown interest in developing the port. Jindals, however, are out of the fray now. Jindal Infrastructure, part of the JSW Group, is setting up a Rs 2,000 crore deep-sea port in the Bhadrak district of Orissa.