Paradip Port Trust (PPT) has invited fresh bids (RFQs or requests for qualification) for construction of two berths — one multipurpose with facilities for handling container traffic, and the other deep draft iron ore berth. The pre-bid meetings are to take place shortly, it is learnt.
The concession agreements earlier signed with Blue Water Iron Ore Terminal Pvt Ltd., a special purpose vehicle floated by Hong Kong-based Nobel Group in partnership with MMTC and Gammon for the construction of a 10-mtpa deep draft iron ore berth and with Sterlite-Leighton combine for construction of a 5-mtpa multi-purpose berth, both on BOT basis, have been cancelled following flagging interest of the concessionaires, according to port sources.
The cost of the iron ore berth was estimated at Rs 591.35 crore and that of the multi-purpose berth at Rs 387.31 crore.
Meanwhile, the port authorities have extended the deadline for submitting quotations for supplying two mobile harbour cranes. The response so far leaves much to be desired, it is learnt.
Paradip port, according to sources, has resumed handling export of agri-products after a long gap. For the first time, rice is being exported through the port in containers, it is learnt. A total of 2,650 tonnes of rice in bags has been brought to the port in 42 wagons from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, for shipment to Indonesia. The exporter is Srilatha Enterprise, sources say.
Till July (April to July) , the port handled a total of 23.13 million tonnes, compared with 16.19 mt in the same period last fiscal, posting a 42.83 per cent growth thus maintaining the second position among all major ports in terms of volume handled as well as rate of growth. In July alone, the volume handled was 6.13 mt (4.45 mt) or a growth of 37.66 per cent.
In the first four months of the current fiscal, the highest growth was recorded in iron ore traffic, 112.48 per cent, followed by thermal coal 61.86 per cent, fertiliser raw materials 28.1 per cent, POL 20.54 per cent, coking coal 17.37 per cent and other items 60 per cent.