PPT to invest Rs 3,500 cr by 2011-12

PARADIP: The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) is planning to invest about Rs 3,500 crore for more than doubling its traffic handling capacity to 106 million tons and implementing projects in the 11th Plan period.

The port had handled a record traffic of 38.5 million tons during 2006-07, representing a growth of over 16 per cent over the previous fiscal, against its capacity of 51.4 million tons.

Total 30 projects had been taken up in the 11th plan period, of which two had been completed and others were in various stages of implementation, PPT Chairman K Raghuramaiah said.

Of the Rs 3,500 crore investment planned, PPT would get Rs 159.45 crore through budgetary support, while it will raise Rs 1,190.36 crore through internal resources.

Many of the projects will be completed through public- private partnership with Rs 1,362.60 expected from private players and another Rs 762 crore from other sources.

The projects include construction of a deep draught iron ore berth at an investment of Rs 504.77 crore and a coal berth (Rs. 387.83 crore) with capacity of ten million tonne per annum (MTPA) each.

Both projects would be taken up on build, operate, transfer basis and the consultants for the projects would be appointed this week after which expression of interest would be called for, Raghuramaiah said.

Other major projects include four-laning of NH-5A from Chandikhol to Paradip at a cost of Rs 442 crore, of which Rs 40 crore will be contributed by PPT.