The Chennai Port Trust is planning to award the construction of a Rs 3,686 crore mega container terminal by March 2010. The port trust has received nine proposals, of which one company was disqualified. The proposed terminal will have the capacity to handle 5 million twenty equivalent units (TEUs) per annum.
Speaking to Business Standard on the recent status of various projects at the port, Chennai Port Trust chairman Subhash Kumar said the port has called for request for qualification (RFQ) and nine companies have shown interest. The companies include L&T Transco Pvt Development Project Ltd, Chennai; Navayuga Engineering Co Ltd, Chennai; DP World Pvt Ltd, Mumbai; IL &FS Maritime Infra Co Ltd, Mumbai; Vadinar Oil Terminal Ltd, Mumbai; Mundra Port & SEZ Ltd, Ahmedabad; Lanco Infratech Ltd, Hyderabad; FGI Group of companies, Malaysia and GVK-Leighton Consortium, Mumbai. Of this, FGI Group of companies is not qualified.
The port is waiting for security clearance, which has been verbally granted, said Kumar. The PPP document was sent to an appraisal committee. He said the port is planning to call for a tender in the next eight months and planning to away the contract by March 2010, according to Kumar.
He said of the total Rs 3,686 crore, Rs 963 crore will be spent for breakwater construction, Rs 500 crore for berths, Rs 360 crore towards dredging and Rs 124 crore for reclamation. The port would spend Rs 561 crore on this.
Commenting on the status of the RO-RO terminal and a multi-level car parking facility, he said initially the port planned to build the facilities on its own. It has now been decided to build it on a BOT basis. The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 49 crore and Rs 80 crore respectively. The port had called for an EOI for which seven firms responded. Presently, the port is evaluating and would go for an RFQ shortly. The multi-level parking would have a capacity for 6,000 cars, added Kumar.
He noted, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) export increased from the Chennai port has increased 80 per cent year-on-year. Similarly, now Ford India has begun to export.
Initially the auto major planned to export 2,6000-27,000 cars every year. “Going for-ward, the Chennai port will be one of the major hubs for car exports.” To cater to the requirements, the port may plan one more multi-level car parking, added Kumar.
HMIL produce 600,000 units a year, of which exports accounted for about half the company’s sales of nearly 500,000 units in 2008. Hyundai exported 135,000 cars in the first six months of 2009, a 22 per cent increase over a year ago.
The port trust has also mooted an idea to the Secretary - Tourism to make Chennai and Mumbai ports has gateway for international cruise. He said, both ports are located in the metros and are well connected to other places in the country. Both the metro cities can receive chartered flights and this would attract international tourists.
“We must do something to attract more cruise liners. Till 2005-06 Chennai port used to receive 15-16 vessels every year. Now only six vessels come.” Despite international cruise operators showing interest, we are not able to attract cruises due to the poor infrastructure and other facilities. Kumar said, Caribbean Tourism have shown interest in using Chennai port as a stop point.
The port is also planning to develop tank forms for Rs 50 crore, the construction of which is expected to be complete by September 2010.
In 2008-09 the port handled 57.49 million tonnes of cargo and set a target to handle 75 million in 2011-12 and 100 million in 2015-16.
