BHP, L&T, IL&FS, Integrax in race for Gopalpur port

Five national and international companies have evinced interest to develop the seasonal minor port at Gopalpur in south Orissa into a major all-weather port.

This is in response to a global tender floated by the state government for the purpose last month. The companies are Integrax Burhard of Malaysia, BHP Minerals Ltd of Australia and Orissa Stevedores Ltd, Larsen and Toubro and Indian Leasing and Financial Services from India. They have applied for Request for Qualification.

The state government has appointed Rail India Techno Economic Survey (RITES) as the advisor for the port project. RITES will short-list companies from among the five after they submit their qualification application, sources said and added that the short-listed firms will then be asked to submit their technical and financial bids for evaluation by RITES before final selection.

After selection, the advisor firm will send its report to the state government following which a high power committee headed by the state chief secretary will take a final decision on the matter.

"If everything goes smooth, the decision on selection of port developer will be taken by the end of this year", a senior official of the transport department said.

The state government has decided to develop Gopalpur port on a build-own-operate-share-transfer (BOOST) basis.

The concession agreement with developer initially will be for a period of 30 years with a mutually agreeable extension of another 20 years. The Orissa government has been on the look out for a suitable private party for development of the Gopalpur port since mid-90s.