Shipping Ministry to appoint consultant for deep sea port in Bengal

Kolkata, Jun 12 (UNI) The Centre will soon appoint a consultant to study the feasibilty of the Rs 2000 crore deep sea port near Haldia, off the coast of West Bengal to lure larger ships.

Speaking to UNI, Kolkata Port Trust Chairman Dr Anup Chanda said the consultant would soon be selected to undertake a feasibility study, prepare a detailed project report, and assist the government in constructing the port.

At present, cargo originating from and headed for the North- Eastern parts of the country were being serviced by Paradip Port in Orissa, Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and also Chennai Port, all of which were said to add to the cost of importers and exporters and end-use customers since the cargo has to traverse vast distance inland.

Since Kolkata and Haldia are riverine ports, the Centre wants to set up a deep draught sea port in West Bengal, sources in the Shipping Ministry said.

A deep draught port has an average depth of 16-17 metres enabling large ships such as Capesize bulk carriers (cargo carrying capacity of 80,000 tonnes and above) and Suezmax tankers (100,000-150,000 tonnes).

Based on the consultant's report, the government would finalise the ''ideal location'' of the new port which is proposed to be near Haldia.

''The proposed port will have good connectivity with the hinterland,'' Mr Chanda said.

UNI