Corporates dial Guj ports

AHMEDABAD: The race for Gujarat ports is heating up. While a number of large players have set their eyes on state’s greenfield projects, an even larger number of reputed companies have evinced interest in developing the existing ports.

Adani group, GVK Industries ABG Shipyard, Larsen & Toubro, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, IL&FS, Sanghi group, Container Corporation of India, Continental Warehousing Corporation, Nirma group and Sterling Biotech Limited just to name a few are battling it out for the six existing ports that Gujarat government wants to upgrade with private participation.

While Adanis want to develop Porbander and Navlakhi, GVK has shown interest in all six projects. And while ABG has set its eyes on Magdalla, IL&FS seems keen on Dahej, Magdalla and Navlakhi.

The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) had invited expression of interest (EoI) for developing Bhavnagar, Dahej, Porbanar, Navlakhi, Magdalla and Okha ports. While ABG, Adani and L&T have a presence in the state, players like GVK Industries, which recently bagged the Mumbai airport project too have shown interest in Gujarat ports.

Apart from these companies, players such as Arya Offshore Services, Zoom Realty Projects, Navyug Engineering, Sanex International, Mangaldas Kapadia & Sons and United Shippers amongst others too have submitted EoIs for one or the other port.