A city-based industry body today favoured proposed Tajpur port in East Midnapore over the Sagar port, citing better connectivity in terms of technical and infrastructure access, and is also preparing a feasibility report to make its case before the West Bengal government.
"Tajpur is better both in technical and accessible infrastructure terms compared to the Sagar port. We have verbally communicated this to the state government and are currently preparing a document justifying our analysis," Bengal Chamber of Commere and Industry (BCCI) president Sutanu Ghosh said here today.
He further said Tajpur offers 15-metre draft allowing ships with 60,000 tonnes to dock while Sagar port can offer a 12-metre draft permitting only 45,000 tonnes of cargo.
"Access to Sagar port is far more difficult than Tajpur and all these advantages make Tajpur a natural preference," Ghosh said.
With Bengal government pushing for Tajpur project over Sagar port, the Kolkata Port Trust has raised concern and said the new proposal will hurt the viability of Sagar port, a project which is being developed jointly between state and Centre.
KoPT officials said they were clueless about the state's behaviour as Bengal government was now pushing for Tajpur port when the project had received assistance and approval of the Centre.
The state government is keen to scout for a private partner for the project and the bids would be floated by December.
Roadshows were organised to attract investment in the maritime sector of the state and Tajpur project is also listed.
The investment in the first phase will be around Rs 4,900 crore and another Rs 890 crore could be pumped in the second phase. The cost of dredging to create an 18km shipping channel to the port will be part of the investment.
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