Big guns including Adani and DP World vie for Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port contract

The berth numbers 7 and 8 are dedicated to handling containers at KDS. The project under the private-public-partnership (PPP) mode involves the reconstruction of berth 8 and the mechanisation of berths 7 and 8 for an estimated investment of ₹700 crore.

Six entities have participated in the tender floated by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (formerly Kolkata Port Trust), which manages twin port systems at Kolkata and Haldia, for the project. Apart from Adani and DP World, J.M. Baxi & Co, Navayuga Group and Century Ply are some of the entities who participated in the tender, an SMPK official said.

The project involves, among others, the installation of rail rail-mounted quay crane (RMQC) which will ensure faster handling of container cargo and thereby expand the capacity of the berth.

“At NSD Kolkata, we handle containers. We are going through the development of berths 7 & 8 under PPP. We have got six RFPs. People have participated. Now it has gone for security clearance (from the Centre). As soon as we get the clearance, we will open the quotes and award the tender,” Rathendra Raman, chairman of SMPK, told this newspaper.

The 30-year concession on DBFOT (design, build, finance, operate and transfer) basis will go to the highest bidder. The operator who will be offering the highest royalty per TEU of container cargo handled at the project facilities will be declared as the highest bidder.

The chairman pointed out that the new facility has the potential to handle 800,000 TEUs (twenty equivalent units), up from 500,000 TEUs. It would take about two years to complete the project, according to the tender document.