KoPT gets great response for onshore cargo handling tender

The pre-bid tender meeting of Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has got tremendous response on the tender floated to select onshore dry bulk cargo handling agents for Haldia Dock, KoPT officials said today.
"Representatives of 17 companies and the major handling agent group currently engaged at Haldia had attended the pre-bid meeting with port officials on the tender for selecting onshore dry bulk cargo handling agent," a KoPT spokesman said.
During the meeting the bidders sought some clarifications with respect to eligibility criteria and other terms and conditions of the tender, he said.
KoPT, which took the initiative after the Centre directed the port to select handling agent for dry bulk through tendering process along with revenue sharing following allegations that a few agents had caused loss running into thousands of crores of Rupees, had floated the tender on July 21 and last date for submission of the tender is August 19.

Under the current system, a port has no role in onshore handling after the cargo is unloaded from ships. A deal is struck between the agent and the 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 handling through competitive bidding along with revenue sharing in dry bulk berths for Haldia," KoPT chairman RPS Kahlon had earlier said.

The Centre might use this as a pilot project before asking all 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.
The tendering process, however, could run into rough weather after a few of its agents went to court against the process.