The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has extended the bid submission deadline to December 17 for two berths which were managed by Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT) before their exit from Haldia.

“After prospective bidders sought clarification on certain aspects of the contract, we decided to extend the last date for submission of bid to December 17 from December 3,” a senior KoPT official involved in the re-tendering process told PTI declining to be quoted.

KoPT had sought re-tendering for operation and maintenance of the berths no 2 and 8 at Haldia Docks after HBT exited alleging a law and order problem.

KoPT was planning to re-issue the contract on the same terms and scope of work originally offered in 2009 to HBT, co-promoted by ABG group and LDA of France.

“The scope of work will remain the same for re-tendering of the contract for another seven years as this contract is a fallout of failure of an earlier contractor,” the official said.

At least eight domestic and one international company participated in a pre-bid meeting for operation and maintenance of berth no 2 and 8, sources said.

The successful bidder will be appointed for mechanised cargo handling solutions at both the berths.

KoPT would appeal to the appropriate authority to claim the losses from HBT, if any, arising out of re-tendering, acting chairman Manish Jain had said.

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