Govt To Invite EoIs For Rs 41,000 Crore International Transhipment Port Project In Great Nicobar Island

Expressions of Interests (EoIs) shall be invited by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to develop a global transhipment port challenge at Great Nicobar Island within the Bay of Bengal. According to a launch by the ministry on Friday, the challenge is anticipated to be full with an funding of Rs 41,000 crore ($5 Billion), which incorporates funding from each the federal government and PPP concessionaires. 

The EoI shall be launched on the e-procurement portal on Saturday. The mega International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay of Great Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands within the Bay of Bengal can have the capability to deal with 16 million containers per 12 months. Phase one of many proposed challenge shall be commissioned within the 12 months 2028 and can deal with a  capability of 4 million TEUs within the preliminary section, the ministry stated. 

Features Of  ICTP

The estimated value for section one of many proposed transhipment port is round Rs 18,000 crore which incorporates the development of breakwaters, dredging, reclamation, berths, storage areas, constructing and utilities, procurement and set up of apparatus and growth of the port colony with core infrastructure goes to be developed with the federal government help.

The challenge focuses on three key drivers, based on the ministry, strategic location when it comes to proximity (40 nautical miles) with the International delivery commerce route, availability of pure water depth of over 20 metre, and carrying capability of transhipment cargo from all of the Ports within the proximity together with Indian Ports.

The challenge is positioned on the worldwide commerce route, with present transhipment terminals like Singapore, Klang, and Colombo in proximity.

Vision Behind The Project 

The authorities says the holistic growth of islands goals to bridge the gaps in infrastructure and enhance financial alternative for the speedy enhance within the dimension of all varieties of vessels, from feeders to giant inter-continental carriers. Further, the proposed infrastructure services shall be such that the service ranges and services match that of the worldwide prime container transhipment terminals and neighbouring ports.

Public Private Partnership (PPP) shall be inspired for this challenge by way of Landlord mode. The PPP concessionaire shall have the flexibleness to develop a storage space, container dealing with tools and different infrastructure based mostly on the concessionaire’s personal market and enterprise evaluation topic to the minimal assured site visitors.

The concessionaire can be awarded a long-term PPP concession of 30 to 50 years (based mostly on requirement), shall be answerable for the supply(s) of port providers and shall have the rights to levy, acquire and retain fees from port customers.

Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal stated, “This project will be a major landmark in developing India to become a self-assured and self-reliant Nation and will support the economic development of the country.”