Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has finally cleared the last hurdle before going ahead with the Diamond Harbour container terminal that would be built under PPP model.
“The Union Cabinet had approved the transfer of the piece of defence land at Diamond Harbour to KoPT to move ahead with the container terminal project,” the National Shipping Board Chairman, Mr P.V.K. Mohan, said here today on the sidelines of ‘East Coast Ports-Vison 2020’ organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The project was stuck for the last few years due to release of only 43 acres out of about 125 acres required to build the terminal in South 24 Parganas.
Mr Mohan said the KoPT will get 75 acres from the Ministry of Defence through Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers. In return, KoPT will give the land at Raichak to them.
The KoPT Chairman, Mr M.L. Meena, said once the land is acquired for the port, expression of interest would be floated for the bids.
However, the Diamond Harbour terminal bidding could be invited as a package along with proposed new berths in Haldia and Kolkata.
The MKJ Group co-promoted Bengal Port, which failed to proceed with the Kulpi port project, is likely to bid for the proposed Rs 1,200-crore Diamond Harbour port.
“Bengal Port will bid for the upcoming port facility of KoPT’s Diamond Harbour project in PPP model. If our existing partner DP World does not agree, then I will bid for the project with other partners,” the MKJ Group Chairman, Mr M.K. Jalan, had told PTI earlier.