KoPT, Bengal government to develop Tajpur port

The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) and the West Bengal government, through a joint venture company, will develop the Tajpur port in the state's East Midnapore district, a port official said on Thursday.

KoPT Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and briefed her on the developmental works in Kolkata and Haldia dock.

A consultant is being appointed to prepare TEFR (Techno Economic Feasibility Report) and it will be ready in three to four months' time.

Once the TEFR is ready, the Shipping Ministry will process for cabinet approval the development of Tajpur Port by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the state government and the KoPT, Babu told Banerjee, according to a statement.

Under the SPV, Bhor Sagar Port Ltd, the KoPT has 74 per cent stake, while the state holds 24 per cent.

The SPV was supposed to take up deep sea port at Sagar but studies have identified Tajpur as a better location in terms of viability of the project.

The Chairman, in the meeting, raised the issue of difficulty in movement of edible oil from Haldia by rail due to local opposition from tankers association.

"Movement by road for longer distance is becoming costly to the extent of Rs 700 to 1,200 per mt. This may result in diversion of edible oil traffic to neighbouring ports," Babu told Banerjee.

--IANS

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