The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has received only two technical bids for barge transportation of coal along the 1,000-km stretch (between Sagar Island/Haldia, West Bengal, and Barh, Bihar) of the 1,620-km National Waterway Number 1 (NW 1).
The bidders are Jindal ITF and a consortium of M Pallonji & Company Pvt Ltd and Goa-based Sociedade de Fomento Industrial Pvt Ltd.
The bids, invited in April, were opened on Tuesday, after several extensions. The job involves transportation of three million tonnes of imported coal annually for 10 years for NTPC’s Barh super thermal power plant that is yet to begin generation.
IWAI, inquiries reveal, is likely to invite price bids within a month or so. Once finalised, the bids will be placed before NTPC for award of the contract to the successful bidder.
Award of contract
If everything progresses as planned, the award of the contract should be possible by the year-end.
The transportation has to start within three years from the date of the award of the contract, it is learnt. The Barh project is expected to be ready by that time to receive imported coal by river route. The foundation stone for the project was laid in March 1999 by the then Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee.
It may be noted that the contract for barge movement of coal between Sagar Island/Haldia and Farakka (560 km and also on NW 1) for NTPC’s Farakka super thermal power plant in West Bengal was awarded more than two years ago with the stipulation that movement is started within two years. That has not happened.
There have been several postponements of the commissioning date.
The trial run is now being planned in October. Jindal ITF has been awarded the contract for transporting by barges three mt of imported coal annually for seven years.