Bengal keen to kickstart deep sea port project

The West Bengal government is looking to fast track the deep sea port project with investors who have expressed a keenness to build the facility.

State commerce and industry minister Nirupam Sen said the state government had approached the committee set up by government of India to skip the process of appointing consultants for the project and directly invite bids from investors and developers.

Earlier a tender floated for consultants had not evoked any response. While many of the consultancy firms had picked up papers for expression of interest (EOI), final bids were not submitted as they were not satisfied with the terms of reference.

The committee could now either go for re-tendering with some alterations in the terms of reference or in tandem with the state government's suggestion move directly towards inviting bids from developers.

The minister added that the committee could also entrust the state government with the whole process of inviting bids and selection of developers.

If the committee agreed to skip the process of appointing consultants, which according to the state government would delay the project by another two years, then developers could submit bids and suggest sites. The best location would be selected by the government.

The move to fast track the deep sea port project was initiated since companies like Sajjan Jindal-controlled JSW group and Venugopal Dhoot promoted Videocon groups had evinced interest in the project. Moreover, the deep sea port was key to the success of the proposed petroleum, chemical, petrochemical investment region (PCPIR).

Sen said, Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries was taking a lot of interest in the progress of the deep sea port project since the state government sought participation of the group in PCPIR. "The deep sea port will be an important input and the success of the PCPIR will depend on the project."

Sen met Ambani on his recent visit to Mumbai aimed at wooing investors particularly in the petrochemical sector.

Sen also met Ashok Hinduja of the Hinduja group and asked him to explore investment opportunities in PCPIR.

"They are planning to set up a refinery elsewhere and could explore setting some downstream facility like a naphtha cracker in Bengal," said Sen.

As far as the status of PCPIR is concerned, the application had already been submitted to the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers.

Sabysachi Sen, commerce and industry secretary said, the state government had sent its replies to queries from the ministry. The application is still with the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers and upon its approval would go to other departments.

Hindujas moot medicity

The Hinduja group will explore the possibility of setting up a healthcare facility near Kolkata. Nirupam Sen said, the group could also set up a medi-city if the state government could provide around 50 acres close to Kolkata.

The medi-city would house hospital, medical college, nurse's training institute, dental college, among some other features. However, with lesser land, the group would set up a hospital and possibly a medical college.

The state government would have to revert to the Hinduja group with a location for the project.