Green signal

Calcutta, Nov. 23: The Centre has approved the new port complex project worth Rs 1,707 crore at Haldia.

The public-private partnership appraisal committee comprising group of secretaries cleared the plan on Wednesday, paving the way for the construction of four jetties to the north of Haldia Dock Complex.

According to the proposal, the Calcutta Port Trust (CPT) will provide land and rail link, while the private operator will build the rest of the infrastructure.

The new complex has been divided into two parts —north and south — each having two jetties with a capacity of 23.5 million tonnes.

The CPT had invited requests for qualifications in April, and around 15 firms, including Adani, Essar, Pipavav and Hyundai, had shown interest.

The CPT will now invite bids, A.K. Bose, manager of Haldia Dock Complex, said.

Companies ready to share the highest revenue with the port will be selected.

Two sets of companies will build two multipurpose and fully mechanised jetties each.

The CPT plans to handle the import of coking and non-coking coal at the two berths.

Like the existing Haldia Dock Complex, railway connectivity to carry the coal is going to be the top draw for the new complex.

The new rail link will meet the existing one at Bansberia-Sutahata junction and then go all the way to Panskura to connect with the South Eastern Railway corridor.

The CPT is hoping to share the land given to CESC’s power plant to lay the line. The company is also building its own link to get coal.

However, the port needs to arrange 17 acres more to complete the rail infrastructure. The Mamata Banerjee government has agreed to acquire the land for the port.