Cochin Port Trust calls for bids for work on coal berth at INR 198 crore.

Cochin Port Trust has called for request for qualification (RFQ) for modernisation of coal handling facility at the port on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis for a licence period of 30 years. The project cost has been put at INR 198 crore.

Cochin Port, which handled nearly 50,000 tonnes of coal during the April to May period this year, has been handling the commodity at the North and South Coal Berths at the Mattancherry wharf.

Modernisation of the coal handling facility, possibly on a PPP model, was on the anvil and the work was earlier expected to be awarded in the Q1 of this calendar year.

Development of the coal handling facility has been part of the redevelopment plan for Willingdon Island and the potential for coal has been highlighted considering the location of Kochi lying nearest to the route to coal from Africa, said details on Cochin Port Trust website.

STEELGURU