Bhubaneswar: The state government Saturday decided to issue Request for Proposal (RFP) in favour of four companies that have qualified in the request for qualification (RFQ).
A decision in this regard was taken at the meeting of High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here at Secretariat. The panel also in-principle approved the project, draft RFP, draft concession agreement and land lease agreement.
Notably, the projects involving investment over Rs 1,000 crore referred to HLCA for its approval while others projects are being approved at Chief Secretary level panel.
Four major port developing agencies – Hindustan Ports Private Limited, Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, Essar Port Limited and Navayuga Engineering Company Limited – have qualified in the RFQ stage earlier.
The first river port of the state will be come up on the mouth of Mahanadi at Akhadasali village in Mahakalpada block of Kendrapara district at an estimated cost of Rs 2,110 crore. The project will be implemented on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode and build, own, operate, share and transfer (BOOST) model.
According to official sources, in response to the RFQ floated for the purpose, four developers have submitted their applications and all have qualified for the stage of tendering process.
This port will be set up in two phases. In first phase two berths shall be established for transportation of cargo of capacity 18.43 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA). The land requirement of the proposed port is 300 hectares. In the first phase, 175 hectares will be required.
The proposed port will be connected to National Highway-53 and Haridaspur-Paradip railway line for transportation of cargo. The capacity of transportation of cargo will increase from 18.43 MTPA to 45.88 MTPA with additional of four berths.
On establishment of this port, direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created for 10,700 persons including 4,300 in first phase, the source said.
The port will be designed to cater to the needs of mineral transportation from Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. It will be a common user port for various industries and mines in these states.
PNN
