The Karnataka government has set up a special purpose vehicle, the Tadadi Port Limited (TPL), for implementing the Rs 3,800 crore all-weather greenfield port at Tadadi on the West Coast. The SPV will act as a subsidiary of the Karnataka State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (KSIIDC) which has been designated as the nodal agency for the project.
The first board meeting of the new company, which was held here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of K Jairaj, additional chief secretary, decided to offer the development of the Tadadi Sea Port project to the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India.
Rajaneesh Goel, Managing Director, KSIIDC, said, “The ministry of shipping has responded to our offer and constituted a technical committee to examine the proposal. We have already submitted the detailed project report along with environment impact assessment report to the Development Advisor, Ports. The members of the technical committee visited the proposed site at Tadadi during the third week of March, 2012. The board resolved to impress upon the Union ministry of shipping for expeditious decision to take up this project.”
He said, if the ministry of shipping does not take up the project, the Central government will have to provide viability gap funding (VGF) and the KSIIDC would take up the work. “Already, nine companies have shown interest in the project and have been qualified. We would issue the request for proposal (RFP) to these companies after the government of India’s decision to take over the project. If the government of India takes over the project, they will issue the RFP documents,” Goel told Business Standard.
Vadinar Oil Terminal Limited, Mumbai, Mundra Port & Special Economic Zone Ltd, Consortium of DSC Hung Hua Apollo, Consortium of JSW Infrastructure Limited & Leighton Contractors India Pvt Ltd, Consortium of GVK Transportation Pvt. Ltd. & Samsung C&T India Pvt. Ltd, Consortium of Gammon India & Punj Lloyd Ltd, Consortium of Navayuga Engineering Company & Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd, Consortium of Malco Power Company Limited, Mumbai & Gangavaram Port Ltd and Consortium of GMR Infrastructure Limited & HCC India Ltd are in the race to bag the project.
He said, the Government of Karnataka through the KSIIDC would continue in the project as a JV partner, even if the government of India takes over the project. There will also be a third partner, who will be selected from the private sector, he said.
The Tadadi port will have a capacity of 62.36 million tonne per annum with eight berths, of which four berths are earmarked for iron ore and coal, three berths for the general cargo and one berth for the LNG for KPCL. The berthing designed for 100,000 DWT (dead weight tonnage) for ore coal vessels and 40,000 DWT general cargo vessels, including two turning circles of 580-metre diametre each.
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About 1,419 acres of land at Tadadi, Uttar Kannada District, is available for development of the port.
The proposed port at Tadadi has got an effective hinterland comprising of Central and Northern parts of Karnataka and some parts of Andhra Pradesh, which are rich in large deposits of minerals, forests, agricultural and marine wealth. National Highway 63, National Highway 206 and also the proposed Hubli-Ankola Railway lines will provide good hinterland connectivity.
A consortium of Prointec and Mir Projects and Consultants were appointed through International Competitive Bidding Process. The consultants have submitted the final report during February, 2012. NEERI, a Government of India organisation has been entrusted the work of preparing Report on EIA study. Based on the approval of MoEF for the Terms of Reference, NEERI prepared Draft EIA report and submitted during January 2012.