Reliance Industries, Mitsubishi, Escorts and the Canada-based Cambell Agri-Business are some of the companies that have been shortlisted for construction of the multi-million wheat silo project across the country.
Rites, the global consultant, appointed by the ministry of public distribution and consumer affairs has shortlisted these bidders on the basis of the request of qualification (RFQ). Other successful bidders include the consortium of Punjab Markfed and Cargill, Central Warehousing Corporation and Larsen and Toubro.
The selected parties will now submit their request for participation (RFQ) and financial bids. The shortlisting of parties for the financial bids will be done on the basis of financial capacity and past experience of the companies. After evaluating the financial bids, the number of bidders will be brought down to four and finally, the project will be awarded to two of the bidders.
Some of the parties have joined hands to form consortiums in order to strengthen their financial viability and infrastructural expertise.
The silo project has been divided into base depots and field depots for a cumulative quantum of 180,000 tonnes.
All the base depots will be linked to field depots to set up grain handling systems, which includes bulk transport rail wagons. Wheat will be transported from the producing areas to the consuming areas.
There are four base depots proposed to be built under the project with a capacity of 300,000 tonnes each in Barnala, Moga, Sirsa and Kaithal. The field depots are Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Hooghly for 100,000 tonnes each and New Bombay (200,000 tonnes).
The project is on the build, own and operate basis and the Food Corporation of India will be the exclusive user of the facilities, with a guaranteed utilisation for 20 years.
