After delays in the tendering process marred the proposal to operationalise the Eden Channel, the Centre has now thrown a lifeline to the limping Haldia port, West Bengal's only facility capable of handling large ships, by proposing to undertake capital dredging of navigational channels that service the facility.
The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), which administers the Haldia port, has been asked to draw up a detailed proposal for the scheme that is likely to cost about Rs 995 crore, Union shipping minister GK Vasan said here on Tuesday. “Capital dredging is required for improvement of depth in the Haldia channel for which the Kolkata Port Trust has undertaken a comprehensive scheme. This scheme is called River Regulatory Measures (RRM), which comprises river training works and capital dredging. The proposal will be examined by the (shipping) ministry as soon as it is received from the port,” he said at an event organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce.
Vasan further said that all the due processes for the appointment of a full-time chairman for KoPT had been completed and “an appointment can be expected to be made very shortly”.
