The Kolkata Port Trust will invite bids for the container terminal facility at Diamond Harbour. The development follows the recent settlement of land issues between the Centre and the port authorities.

Mr ML Meena chairman of CPT on the sidelines of an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry said that “We are issuing the request for qualification documents for the container terminal facility at Diamond Harbor.”

He said the facility would have a natural depth of nine metres without dredging. This will substantially reduce the freight cost and turnaround time for vessels.

The terminal will constitute four ship jetties and three barge jetties, with an estimated capacity to handle 1.6 million TEUs annually.

The INR 1,233 crore projects got stuck when defense authorities refused to part with 43 acres that was critical for the project. Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers the local shipbuilder under the defense ministry was planning to utilize the land to set up its own facilities.

(Sourced from www.telegraphindia.com)