Initial bids for setting up port in Sagar in 2 months: Vasan

The Government will invite initial bids for setting up a major port in Sagar Island in West Bengal in the next two months.
"The RFQ (Request for Qualification) for a major port in Sagar Island in West Bengal will come in the next couple of months," Shipping Minister G K Vasan told reporters here.
The feasibility report of the proposed port is done and the DPR (detailed project report) is under preparation.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs last year had approved the proposal of the Shipping Ministry for setting up a new major port in Sagar Island through the public-private Partnership (PPP) mode.

The government has also proposed setting up a major port near the Vishakhapatnam port.
"Land has been identified for the proposed port in Andhra Pradesh," the Minister said.

Highlighting achievements of his ministry (2009-14), Vasan said the government in 2013-14 (till January 2014) had awarded as many as 30 port development projects, under the PPP mode, which entail a total investment of Rs 2,07,089 crore.
The total capacity of these projects is 217.57 million tonnes per annum.
In the last four years, government had approved 88 new projects, which entail an investment of Rs 42,953 crore and envisage a capacity addition of 558 million tonnes per annum, he said.

Any port with two or more berths and facilities and equipment capable of discharging 1,00,000 tonnes of cargo per month from ocean-going ships is defined as major port.