KoPT tender on onshore handling awaits 'court directions'

A tender floated by the Kolkata Port Trust for selecting onshore dry bulk cargo handling agents for Haldia Port appears to have sailed into rough weather after a few of its existing agents went to court.

"Four of the existing agents of the port have gone to the Kolkata High Court against the tender and the matter is now subjudice. We will have to wait for court directions before we can go ahead. In this situation, we are yet to see interest from any bidder," KoPT sources told PTI.

Officials said the tender was floated in the third week of July to select an agent. KoPT took the initiative after the government had asked the port to select handling agent for dry bulk through tendering process along with revenue sharing after there there allegations that a few agents had caused loss running into thousands of crores of Rupees to KoPT.

Under the current system, the port has no role in onshore handling after the cargo is unloaded from ships.

A deal is struck between the agent and cargo owner depriving the port from a share of revenue from onshore handling service.

"We will be among the first major ports in India to implement dry bulk handlers through competitive bidding along with revenue sharing in dry bulk berths for Haldia," Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) Chairman RPS Kahlon had said earlier. The Centre might use this as a pilot project before asking all the 12 major ports to follow suit, KoPT sources said.

The upper ceiling of charge has been fixed at Rs 119.48 and minimum revenue sharing of Rs 13 per tonne, Kahlon had said. According to port users, onshore average bulk cargo handling charges ranged from Rs 200 to Rs 300 per tonne and if the proposed attempt became a reality, it would be a boon for both trade and KoPT.