Ennore Port reviving box terminal plans, invites EoIs for PPP model

CHENNAI: 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 finalising funds.

The EPL has invited expression of interest (EoI) from companies who would like to take up the project on a public-private-partnership mode.

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, M.A. Bhaskarachar, Chairman, EPL, said recently. The second step is to issue request for qualification, he said.

The presence of container terminals on either side of the port (L&T Kattupalli in the north and Chennai port in the south) will not affect the prospects for the project at Ennore. With an increase in the transport of containerised cargo in future, there will be enough business for all, he said.

“We have the advantage of good rail and road connectivity,” he said. 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 20 foot equivalent unit (TEU) vessels and even 14,000 TEU in future.

The development and operation of the terminal will be through the PPP model on BOT basis for a concession period of 30 years according to the Model Concession Agreement /Government of India Guidelines.

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-ton capacity a year to handle a variety of dry bulk/liquid bulk cargo, automobile units, project cargo and containers. Ennore Port has six berths as of now capable of serving the varied needs of the maritime industry.

The first phase of the port development with an investment of Rs. 1,058 crore created a protected port basin, two coal wharves to accommodate two panamax size vessels of 280 m length each and a depth of (-) 15 m alongside with entrance/approach channel (3,775 m length) and port basin a depth of (-) 16 m and (-) 15.5 m respectively.