Second Haldia dock complex plan on hold

Kolkata: The plan to develop a second dock arm at Haldia has been kept at abeyance by the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) as the port trust is now banking on more profitable projects like commissioning of two more riverine jetties at Haldia.

Confirming the development, A K Chanda, chairman of KoPT said, 'At present we are not dealing with the proposed second dock arm of the Haldia dock complex.

This project has not been shelved but right now KoPT is focussing on two more riverine jetties to be commissioned outside the lock gate at the Haldia dock complex.'

KoPT is saddled with a host of projects and it is going ahead with them on a priority basis. Chanda admitted that building the second Haldia dock arm is not very important at this stage adding 'we will take up that project whenever it is deemed to be necessary.'

With the two riverine jetties at Haldia set to be commissioned not earlier than 2009-10, KoPT is unlikely to consider the second dock arm project before that period.

The second dock arm project, entailing an investment of Rs 130 crore has hardly made any headway for over five years.

Meanwhile KoPT has already got the environment clearance for one of the two proposed riverine jetties at Haldia and is awaiting the requisite clearances from the Port Investment Board and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Chanda claimed.

The first riverine jetty, having a length of 200-250 metre is scheduled to be commissioned by 2010 while KoPT is observing certain hydrological development with respect to the second jetty. The two riverine jetties are to be constructed at an investment of Rs 150-200 crore.

In another development, KoPT has already given land to the Inland Water Authority of India(IWAI) for developing a state-of-the-art inland water terminal at the Kolkata dock. The inland water terminal will be operated by IWAI. KoPT is keen on developing inland water system to reduce dependence on the road and rail route for movement of container vessels.

The port trust is also in the process of procuring land belonging to the Union ministry of defence to enable IWAI to operate a barge jetty at the Haldia dock, Chanda said.