Dighi Port, the first non-major private sector seaport in the state on the Konkan coast, is hopeful of commissioning its second berth by October, which is a full six months ahead of schedule, said top official of the company.
The Vijay Kalantri-promoted Balaji Infra Projects is developing a 70-million tonne port on the Rajapuri creek in Raigad district on the Konkan coast and it at present operates one berth on the south bank.
"We are hopeful of commissioning the second berth a full six months ahead of schedule by October, against our initial plan of March 2015. We are running against time as we are getting more clients," Kalantri, Chairman and Managing Director of Balaji Infra Projects, told PTI.
Balaji Infra holds 69 per cent in the port company with IL&FS holding 21 per cent and the remaining is allocated for the state Maritime Board, which though has not invested anything so far.
The Rs 2,500-crore first phase of Dighi Port will have five berths by next December. The company has raised Rs 1,300 crore debt till date.
When fully developed by 2020 in two phases with a total investment of Rs 5,500 crore, the port will have a capacity of over 70 million tonne per annum with 15 berths.
The 30-mt first phase is slated to be completed by 2015 with five berths, two on the south bank and the rest on the north bank, Kalantri said, adding that the south bank facility will cater to non-clean cargo like coal, bauxite, LNG and crude oil, while the northern berths will handle clean cargo.
