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Indian port authority issues RFQs from prospective bidders for new US$1.4 billion box facility
The Port of Jawaharlal Nehru is once again seeking bids for the long awaited fourth box terminal at India’s largest deepwater port.
The port authority has issued a new request for qualifications (RFQ) from interested bidders following its decision to terminate the contract awarded to PSA International to build and operate the terminal in September last year.
Requiring an investment of US1.4 billion, the restructured project will include the build of a two-kilometre quay, supporting infrastructure and modern container handling equipment, report the JOC.
The new terminal will be awarded as a public-private partnership and for a concessional period of 30 years. RFQ applications must be received on or by July 17th.
According to the JOC, there were rumours that the revised plans would see the new terminal being split in two, with two separate 1,000-metre berths in a bid to attract greater interest from private investors. However, this proposal was deemed unfeasible by the Indian government.
Upon completion, the fourth terminal at the port will see throughput capacity more than double from 4.17 million TEU to 9 million TEU.
Last year, Jawaharlal Nehru awarded a contact to DP World, who already operates the Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal at the port, to build and operate a smaller 800,000 TEU terminal for $107 million. The Dubai-based company’s second terminal at the port, located in Mumbai, is scheduled for completion in 2015.