Hindustan Infralog (D P World) emerges highest bidder to develop Mega Container Terminal at Tuna Tekra, Kandla

GANDHIDHAM :

The Deendayal Port Authority, No.1 Major Port of the Nation, has embarked upon to develop a ‘State of Art’ Mega Container Terminal at TunaTekra, Kandla, under PPPmode, foraconcession period of 30 years, through global competitive bidding process, to be developed in the adjacent East side of existing Dry Bulk Terminal,currentlybeingoperatedbyAKBTPL.

Hindustan Infralog Pvt. Ltd. (D P World) has emerged as the Highest Bidder for becoming the ‘Concessionaire’ of the subject project, by offering ‘Royalty’ of Rs.6500/- per TEU. ThisisalsothehighestbideverreceivedinaPPPproject.

This Project, which was conceived in the year 2013 is now goingtoseethelightoftheday.

The Project entails an investment of about Rs 4500 Cr, which is the highest capital investment ever in a PPP project atanyoftheMajorportsoftheIndia.

This Mega Container Terminal Project is envisaged for handling capacity of 2.19 Million TEUs per annum, with Estimated Project Cost of Rs.4243.64 Crores for Concessionaire and Rs.296.20 Crores for Authority. DPA will invest inthe common basic infrastructure viz Access Channel for navigation of vessels and Road. The project facility shall cater the container vessels of size upto 21000 TEUs, with a draught of 18 M, without any pre-berthing detention for want of the tide. The operations of the Terminal is expected to start inearly2026.

The importance of this project can be realized from the fact that this project is a part of Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision ‘Sagarmala’ and ‘PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan’ and implementation of the project is being monitored by the PMO. Therefore, the project was structured and global publicity was adopted under the guidance of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, wherein mega Road Show was also organized at Mumbai, in order to successfully conclude the bidding process. The project has already been apprised by the PPPAC and approved by the Union Cabinet, GoI. Also, MoEF&CC has granted the Environment Clearance to theproject.

The successful implementation of the project shall not only bring a new era of Mega Container handling at Deendayal Port at Kandla, but also have a huge positive impact on economical & social scenario of the Kutch district andGujaratregionatlarge.

The project will entail the following benefits

1) Due to its strategic location (closest among all portsMajor or minor, to the densely populated and fast developing northern hinterland), the Container Terminal will help in decreasing thecostofcontainer logistics inthecountry

2) with deep draft and latest handling technology, the Container Terminal is expected to set up a new benchmark in productivity andeaseofdoingbusiness

3) the Container Terminal is expected to transform the economic landscape of Kutchh, with creation of several ancillary services ( warehousing etc) and direct and indirect employment opportunities tomillionsofpeople.

4)The Container Terminal, apart from earning royalties for DPA will also be a buoyant source of taxation income ( directandIndirect)totheGOI

5) The Container Terminal is also likely to give a major fillip to infrastructure development in Gujarat with major investments needed from NHAI, and Railways. These are likely to help the development of other parts of the state as well,apartfromKutch.