Deendayal Port Authority, the state-owned entity that runs the port at Kandla in Gujarat, has invited bids to privatise its berths 15 and 16 for handling multipurpose clean cargo and containers on a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) basis for 30 years as part of the government's asset monetisation programme.

The two berths are currently run by the port authority after taking over the facility that was previously awarded to a private operator for handling multipurpose cargo (other than liquid and containers), but was terminated due to non-performance.

The recently constructed berths will be further developed with private funds of Rs 2733 crore.

Deendayal Port Authority is seeking to privatise the two cargo berths as ome project, in view of rising demand for multipurpose clean cargo and to attract more container cargo to the port. In FY25, the port handled 150.15 million tons of cargo, including containers, liquids, bulk, breakbulk, and other project cargo. In containers, it handled 4,75,215 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from a container terminal run by JM Baxi Ports & Logistics Ltd.

The port authority aims to develop a modern, mechanised cargo-handling facility with private funds to enable efficient ship handling, faster turnaround, and increased volumes.

The two berths will have a quay (berth) length of 600 metres capable of docking two ships of 300 metres each, supported by a backup area of 43.3 hectares for use as stack yards, rail yard and allied infrastructure.

The two berths can handle 14.10 million tonnes of cargo a year, comprising 5.08 million tonnes of multipurpose clean cargo and 6 lakh twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

The berths are designed to handle vessels of up to 75,000 Deadweight Tons (DWT) of multipurpose clean cargo and 6,000 TEUs of container cargo requiring a draft of 14.5 metres.

The port authority will award the project for handling clean cargo, such as iron and steel products, food grains, sugar, rice, salt, silica clay, project cargo, etc., and containers to a single operator, per the tender documents.

The project will be awarded to the bidder quoting the highest royalty per ton of cargo/TEU to the port authority.

The private entity winning the tender will develop the project in a single phase by installing cargo-handling equipment and developing the backup area and allied facilities within 18 months from the award of the concession,

Source: ET Infra. Com 

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