Business Line reported that Ennore Port Ltd is reviving the development of a container terminal after the earlier private terminal operator, Bay of Bengal Container Terminal consortium had to be terminated in October over delay in finalizing funds.
The EPL has invited expression of interest from companies who would like to take up the project on a public private partnership mode.
Mr MA Bhaskarachar chairman of EPL said that based on the companies feedback, the port will change some of the parameters to make the project attractive. The terminal is planned for 2013-14. The second step is to issue request for qualification.
Mr Bhaskarachar said that the presence of container terminals on either side of the port will not affect the prospects for the project at Ennore. With an increase in the transport of containerized cargo in future, there will be enough business for all.
He said that “We have the advantage of good rail and road connectivity. The proposed container terminal is to be developed in stages on a modular basis. The strategy should be to develop terminals that can accommodate at least 8,000 twenty foot equivalent unit vessels and even 14,000 TEU in future.”
According to the Model Concession Agreement/Government of India Guidelines, the development and operation of the terminal will be through the PPP model on BOT basis for a concession period of 30 years.
A back up portion of land to the extent of about 2,200 acres is available at present with sufficient waterfront. Ennore port has a potential to develop 20 berths with over 100 million tonne capacity a year to handle a variety of dry bulk/liquid bulk cargo, automobile units, project cargo and containers.
