India: JNPT to Open Bids for Dredging Project

A dredging project worth Rs 1,570-crore with the prospect of enhancing the draft of the channel leading to two of the country’s largest ports, JNPT and Mumbai Port, is set to be initiated next month.

The dredging project will be funded by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). The project related tender will be introduced on January 10 and the first phase is expected to be awarded in January. The prospect of this phase is to increase the draft to 14 meters from the present 10 meters, entailing a cost of Rs 1,571 crore.

The project is planned to be completed in two years.

A memorandum of understanding will be signed with the Singapore Port Authority on January 11 in New Delhi to build the Rs 4,060-crore phase one of the fourth terminal at the JNPT.

The Rs 4,060-crore phase one of the project will be directed towards constructing 1,000 meter berths and will take three years for completion. In the second phase, Rs 2,640 crore will be invested to add another 1,000 meter berths and it will be completed over a two-year period.

The whole concept of the plan is estimated to exceed Rs 16,000 crore.

[mappress]

World Maritime News Staff, January 2, 2012;