Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust’s call for expression of interest from consultants to help plan a port-based EPZ, or SEZ has a number of leading Indian and foreign firms look up to it.
Jebel Port among top firms interested in drafting the EPZ blueprint
MUMBAI: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust’s call for expression of interest (EoI) from consultants to help plan a port-based export processing zone (EPZ), or a special economic zone (SEZ) has a number of leading Indian and foreign firms look up to it.
Jebel Ali Port, United Arab Emirates-based international port’s consultancy company, has been the first consultancy firm to have submitted their EoI. PriceWaterHouseCoopers, KPMG, GMR, Indiabulls, Essar Construction, IL&FS have also enquired about the project, besides other smaller firms, although have not yet submitted their interest, a senior port official said.
“We have received enquiries from many firms, but like always, most of them will submit their EoIs on the last day of tender,” said S K Kaul, chief manager-administration and secretary-IC, JNPT. The last date for submitting EoI is the December 26.
JNPT, the country’s largest container handling port, had acquired 2,500 hectares of land in 1989 for its long-term requirements, but has utilised only 1,300 hectares so far for port-related activities. The port now has proposed to develop about 1,200 hectares of its undeveloped port land. This portion of port land starts from the Jessai village and ends at the foothill of Dongri village, further extending towards the main container gate complex and GTI gate complex of the port.
About 800 hectares is available for expansion, where the port is seeking an SEZ/EPZ for non-polluting, non-hazardous industries and will build warehouses, container freight stations, container yards, cold storage, restaurants and petrol pumps. The rest 400 hectares would be used for green development and social amenities like bus terminals, hospitals.
It would take about a month or two after the EoI closes to float the tender and finalise the consultant, who would then chalk out a plan taking into consideration the existing facilities at the Port and future traffic potential. “The usual L1 bid, which is the lowest priced bid, might not be the only criteria this time, as we are looking for a good land development plan and are ready to spend more for good quality,” said Kaul.
JNPT plans to allot the developed land to export-oriented entrepreneurs on the highest lease rent basis and expects to draw revenue through the lease rental of the area. “Although we have not selected the modalities, but the major revenue source will be the lease rentals,” said Kaul. The port will also see a rise in the EXIM traffic owing to the port-based SEZ/EPZ and will be an added source of revenue. The development will also help generate employment and work towards the progress of the country as a whole, he added.
s_archana23@dnaindia.net
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