KoPT invite bids for transloading terminal at Haldia

The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has begun the process of creating infrastructure to begin transloading operation aimed at saving the riverine port. Bids were invited by port authorities for construction of the 270-metre-long riverine multipurpose jetty 1 near Haldia Dock to be known as outer terminal 1.

The jetty, which has a potential to handle five million tonnes of cargo annually, will cost around Rs 290 crore, sources said. “No Centre has not asked to stop the tender,” KoPT Chairman M L Meena said when asked in wake of a claim made by the Orissa government on February 4.

Over the years large cargo vessels were increasingly facing difficulty in docking at the port because of the Hooghly river's low draft leading to diversion of cargo, prompting the port authorities to decide on transloading at the Sandheads, the mouth of the river, during dry season and at Kanika Sands, an island off the Orissa coast, during monsoon.

However, Orissa objected to the move to expand the Kolkata port's area of operation near Orissa coast which, it feared, would adversely affect new ports coming up along the coast. KoPT expects transloading of five million tonnes of cargo as of now.

KoPT authorities projected Haldia Dock's potential to handle close to 90 million tonnes of cargo by 2019-20 in which the outer terminal 1's contribution would be significant. The terminal to be built by a private investor will offer the highest revenue share to the KoPT.