Another port that is set to come up on the East Coast of India near Kolkata will be deep water all weather facility
To give a boost to infrastructure development in the port sector the government is steadfast in adhering to the Public-Private-Partnership model. Recently having failed to evince interest from private port developers to construct a green-field deep water port near Kolkata in WestBengal, the Indian Government pushed the ball into the court of the state government of West Bengal. The state government was quick to shortlist bidders and eventually settled on entering into an agreement with Amma Lines the flagship company of the Mumbai based Meka Group. According to sources it was the expertise and competency of Amma Lines that helped it to clinch the $ 1.31 billion project.
A 50-year concessional agreement was signed with the Mumbai based operator and the project will now be developed jointly with the state-owned West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. Amma Lines hold 74% stake and the rest by the corporation. A memorandum of understanding is due to be signed next week between the two parties following which a detailed project report will be submitted.
Amma Lines is also the founder and co-promoter of Rewas Port. In 2006, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Logistics Investments and Jai Corp., a company owned by Anand Jain, picked up majority stakes in Rewas Port project following which Amma Lines involvement in the project plummeted.
“We hope to get the environment clearance for the deep sea port soon,” says Hemant Meka Rao, Director of Meka Group. “Once we get the environmental clearance we will be able to complete the construction of the phase I of the project within one year. The first phase will see the setting up of four berths two of which will be dedicated for bulk and another two for containers handling.’
Reason being given by government sources for limited interest being shown by the industry in bidding for this deep sea port project is the perennial problem of high siltation rate in the area. But Amma Lines see no problem in this and are confident to complete the project in record time.
“The site is based in South of West Bengal just three hours drive by road from Kolkata,” informed Mr Rao. “The port will be set up on the land which we will be reclaiming. We will put in place break waters which will ensure operations at the port in all weather conditions. For quick evacuation of the cargo a 20 km road will be constructed to connect the port with the highway and the Railways will be prevailed on to connect the port with the rail-head which is just 22 km away. There is the abundance of cargo including coal, cement, iron and steel, etc.”