The ministry of shipping (MoS) has said it is not feasible to develop a major port at Tadadi in Uttara Kannada district as the required hinterland is still not available. The ministry has told Karnataka government that it would develop the port in phases and to begin with build a small barge-mounted port.
However, the state has not accepted the MoS proposal and instead it wants to develop a major port there on its own. The state had approached the Centre for assistance in developing a major port at Tadadi last year. The greenfield port project is expected to cost Rs 3,800 crore and is being proposed under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
“The ministry of shipping had come forward to develop the port earlier this year and they also visited the proposed port site. After conducting the site visit and technical studies, the ministry told us that they would build only a small barge-mounted port for now. They think there is not enough hinterland. We have told the ministry that there is enough traffic available as per our detailed project report. The ministry is yet to give its final opinion on the project,” a top state government official said.
He said, if the ministry does not want to develop a major port at Tadadi, the state government through the newly-formed special purpose vehicle will develop it. “We have already received nine applications for the project. We are yet to shortlist the bidders. Once we hear the final word from the ministry, we will go ahead with the bidding process and shortlist seven bidders and they would be issued request for proposals (RFP),” the official said.
Vadinar Oil Terminal Ltd, Mundra Port & Special Economic Zone Ltd, consortium of JSW Infrastructure Ltd, consortium of GVK Transportation Pvt Ltd & Samsung C&T India Pvt Ltd, consortium of Gammon India & Punj Lloyd Ltd are among the bidders for the project.
He said, if the ministry of shipping does not take up the project, the Centre will have to provide the viability gap funding (VGF) and the KSIIDC would take up the work.
He said, there is sufficient infrastructure available to connect the Tadadi port with the hinterland. The national highway is being widened and the Hubli-Ankola railway line will be a reality. Already, work has commenced in this direction, he said.
Iron ore from the Bellay-Hospet region would be one of the major commodities to for export from this port once it is developed. “We are also awaiting the final clearance from the Supreme Court in the mining case. Once it is settled, we will go ahead with the development work,” he said.
The Karnataka government has formed a special purpose vehicle, Tadadi Port Ltd (TPL), to implement the Rs 3,800 crore all-weather greenfield port at Tadadi. The SPV will act as a subsidiary of the Karnataka State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited which has been designated as the nodal agency for this project.
The Tadadi port will have a capacity of 62.36 million tonne per annum with eight berths, of which four berths are earmarked for iron ore and coal, three berths for general cargo and one for the LNG for KPCL. The berthing designed for 100,000 DWT (dead weight tonnage) for ore-coal vessels and 40,000 DWT general cargo vessels, including two turning circles of 580-metre diameter each.
About 1,419 acres of land at Tadadi, Uttar Kannada district, is available for development of the port.
