Global terminal operators APM Terminals and DP World are among the five organizations pre-qualified for the contract to build and operate a new container terminal at India’s Port of Kolkata.
The other shortlisted bidders include domestic port infrastructure major Adani Ports and two joint venture groups comprising Concast Infratech and Hyundai Engineering & Construction, as well as IL&FS Maritime Infrastructure and Pembinaan Redzai Sda. Bhd.
The project, to be developed under the public-private partnership model, is estimated to cost $240 million.
Plans include a contiguous quay length of 900 meters (2,953 feet), a 37-hectare (91-acre) container yard and modern service equipment, with an annual capacity of 1.2 million 20-foot-equivalent units.
The pre-qualified bidders will now participate in the second stage of the process, in which the successful contractor will be selected subject to security clearance from federal agencies.
The Kolkata Port Trust includes the ports of Kolkata and Haldia. Kolkata is on the eastern bank of the Hooghly river, about 120 nautical miles from the sea, while Haldia is farther downstream.
KPT’s cumulative box volume in fiscal year 2012-13, which ended March 31, totaled 600,000 TEUs, up 9 percent from 552,000 TEUs in 2011-12.