Gammon-led consortium to build new MPT terminal

MUMBAI: Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) has zeroed in on a consortium led by Gammon India to build its ambitious Rs 1,228-crore offshore container terminal that would add an additional capacity of 15 million tonnes.

The consortium emerged as the highest bidder for the project to be completed in three years on build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. The bids were opened on December 28. The MPT board is expected to meet this month and formally clear the consortium, port deputy chairman Ashok Kumar Bal said.

The second container terminal of the Mumbai Port is to be taken up in two phases. The first phase would add 0.8 million teus equivalent to 10 million tonnes and the second 0.4 million teus, taking the total capacity to 15 million tonnes. The BOT operator would spend Rs 866 crore for the project and the remaining funds would be provided by the port trust.

This is part of the over Rs 2,500-crore expansion plan that would double MPT’s handling capacity to 90 million tonnes by the end of the 11th five-year plan (2007-12), Mr Bal said.