Work on container terminal likely to begin by March '10

The Chennai Port Trust is planning to award the construction of its Rs 3,686-crore mega container terminal by March 2010. The proposed terminal will have a capacity of five million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) per annum.

CPT chairman Subhash Kumar said nine companies had applied for request for qualification of which eight had been shortlisted.

These include L&T Transco Pvt Development Project Ltd, Chennai; Navayuga Engineering Co Ltd, Chennai; DP World Pvt Ltd, Mumbai; IL&FS Maritime Infra Co Ltd, Mumbai; Vadinar Oil Terminal Ltd, Mumbai; Mundra Port & SEZ Ltd, Ahmedabad; Lanco Infratech Ltd, Hyderabad, and GVK-Leighton Consortium, Mumbai. FGI Group failed to qualify.

The port is awaiting security clearance, which has been verbally granted, said Kumar, adding the public-private partnership document was sent to the appraisal committee last month. It is planning to call for tenders in the next eight months and award the contract by March 2010.

Of the total Rs 3,686 crore, Rs 963 crore would be spent for breakwater construction, Rs 500 crore for berths, Rs 360 crore towards dredging and Rs 124 crore for reclamation. The port contribution would be Rs 561 crore.

Commenting on the status of ro-ro terminal and the multi-level car parking facility, he said initially the port had planned to build the facilities on its own but now it has been decided to construct these on a build, operate, transfer basis. The projects would involve around Rs 49 crore and Rs 80 crore respectively.

Seven firms had responded to the expressions of interest. "Currently, the port is evaluating and would go for the RFQ shortly. The multi-level parking would have a capacity to park 6,000 cars,” added Kumar.

While Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) exports from the Chennai port increased 80 per cent year on year, Ford India too has started exports. Initially the auto major is planning to export 26,000-27,000 cars every year. “Going forward, the Chennai port will be one of the major hubs for car exports. The port may plan one more multi-level car parking,” he said.

The CPT has also proposed an idea to make Chennai port a gateway for international cruise. “The port is located in a metro and well connected to other places in the country. It can also receive chartered flights and this would attract international tourist,” he said. Till 2005-06, it received 15-16 vessels every year. This has now come down to only six, he said, adding, “We are not able to attract cruise due to poor infrastructure and lack of other facilities.”

In 2008-09, Chennai port handled 57.49 million tonnes of cargo. It has set a target of 75 million in 2011-12 and 100 million in 2015-16.