“These four jetties, which would have a capacity to handle 8 million tons cargo, would be built through public-private-partnership (PPP) on build-own-transfer (BOT) model,†said A Janardhan Rao, chairman of Kandla Port Trust (KPT). The present capacity of Tuna port is one million ton.
Though the Kandla Port Trust (KPT) has planned 12 new berths at its Tuna port, the first phase of construction will be limited to four berths.
KPT has already short-listed eleven companies for the construction of the new berths. “These are all multinational companies with whom KPT would have a revenue-sharing arrangement,†said a senior port official.
“The expansion proposal is now awaiting a final nod from the Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs, which is likely to come by October,†said Rao. After that, price-bids would be invited, he added.
The depth of the Tuna port would be about 17.8 meters, which would enable big ships to bring cargo to Kandla. Incidentally, the draft at Kandla port is 12 meters, which is a deterrent for large cargo ships to berth here. However, plans are afoot to dredge the channel at Kandla creek up to 13.5 meters by the end of the next year, said Rao.
Besides, the development of Kandla port’s container terminals is being done by Mumbai-based firm ABG. Along with jetties, ABG has been entrusted with the development of the back up area of 42 hectares.
Additionally, two new product jetties and one single buoy mooring (SBM) for ships carrying crude oil are being developed at Vadinar port, which is also part of Kandla port. The project cost is estimated at Rs 1,000 crore. Currently, Vadinar has three SBMs and one product jetty.