Shipping ministry takes first step on 16 PPP projects

The shipping ministry has issued Request for Qualification (RFQ) for 16 projects worth over Rs 13,247 crore to be awarded on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. Those for a further six projects would be issued soon.

 

The projects are mechanisation at HDC berth no 2 and 8 at the Kolkata Port (Rs 150 crore), multi-purpose berth at Paradip Port Trust Project-1 and 2 (Rs 387.3 crore), Mechanisation of Cargo Handling Project-1 and 2 at the Paradip Port (Rs 62.45 crore), installation of mechanised handling facilities for fertilizers and coal at Vizag (Rs 595.3 crore) and development of north cargo and south cargo berths in the east dock at Vizag (Rs 180 crore).

 

Also, creation of a mega container terminal at Chennai (Rs 3,686 crore), construction of north cargo berth no-II at Tuticorin (Rs 319.45 crore), development of fourth container terminal and container handling facility at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (Rs 7,300 crore), development and operation of three conventional cargo terminal at Mumbai (Rs 75 crore) and creation of berthing and allied facilities of Tekkra near Tuna-Phase-I (Rs 492 crore).

 

The shipping ministry had, in its 100-day plan, announced six concessions worth Rs 3,319.14 crore, to be developed on PPP basis.

 

Among other proposals were transferring the assets of Hindustan Shipyards Ltd to the defence ministry, getting Rs 1,570 crore of equipment for the Dredging Corporation of India and a new shipyard at Kochi. Declaration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshwadeep as major ports. And, strengthening the Indian Maritime University, established recently, and an Indian Maritime Causality Investigation Cell in the lines of Directorate General of Shipping.

 

The concession agreement for the construction of a deep draught iron ore terminal at the Paradip Port between the Paradip Port Trust and Blue Water Iron Ore Terminal Pvt Ltd, which is a consortium of Noble Group Ltd, Gammon Infrastructure Projects Ltd and MMTC was also signed.

 

Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan had announced after joining that his ministry would award six concessions in the port sector in three months and would also initiate the process for 20 other concessions, which was later increased to 22.