User charges may increase by nearly 75 per cent at Haldia port with the exit of ABG-LDA and the appointment of a new contractor for mechanised cargo handling.

According to sources, the two interested bidders – T.M. International Logistics Ltd (a Tata Steel joint venture and Mumbai-based J. M. Baxi and Co) – quoted average per tonne mechanised cargo handling charges of Rs 247 and Rs 259, respectively, at berth No 2 and 8. These rates are at least three times higher than the Rs 75/ tonne charged by ABG.

If KoPT now demands the same amount offered by ABG, the final user charge in the mechanised berths is likely to skyrocket to Rs 399 a tonne. When ABG was the contractor, users paid Rs 227/tonne. Out of the total, KoPT was paid Rs 152.

“The bidders have quoted a much higher rate than the previous contractor. Since KoPT did not mention any rear price while re-tendering for the contract, the bidders quoted unrealistic handling fees. The burden may be passed on to the users,” a KoPT official told Business Line requesting anonymity.

He pointed out that any further increase in user cost at Haldia port would hit its cargo flow badly.

But that’s not all. KoPT will now engage in a negotiation with the bidders to determine its share of revenue from the berths.

At a recent seminar, R. P. S. Kahlon, Chairman, KoPT, said, TMILL quoted around Rs 240 for mechanised operations at these two berths and the port trust was negotiating with the company to bring it down to around Rs 200.

At present, TMILL operates at berth No 12 and it is also in the fray for mechanisation of berth No 4B. The KoPT Chairman, however, did not respond to repeated calls and a message asking for a comment in this regard on Wednesday. On an average, HBT handled five million tonne cargo annually at berths 2 and 8 .

It may be recalled that HBT and TMILL quoted Rs 75 and Rs 100 as handling charges in 2009when the tender was floated for the first time.

ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

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