Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) expects to begin trans-loading operations in three month’s time at an alternative point within the Kanika Sands area.
“We should be able to start trans-loading on the south-west end of Kanika Sands in the next two to three months in the new location about 30 km east of Dhamra port,” R. P. S. Kahlon, Chairman, KoPT, said on Monday after a meeting organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
According to Kahlon, the port authorities have identified a new location for trans-loading operations following Dhamra port authorities’ and Odisha Government’s opposition to the earlier decided spot which was nearer to Dhamra port.
Kahlon added that 70 per cent of the cargo would be trans-loaded to barges for respective destinations, while the rest would come to the Haldia dock complex.
Jindal ITF has already bagged a contract to ferry 3 million tonnes of imported coal in barges from the sandheads to NTPC’s Farakka unit along the Hoogly river.
Meanwhile, the KoPT Chairman said the last date for submitting the final bid document for developing the second dock facility at Haldia has been extended till March 28. Earlier, interested bidders were to submit it by March 4.
He added that the three interested bidders have sought more time.