It is reported that the Visakhapatnam Port Trust has reportedly shortlisted five consortiums and one firm for the proposed mechanization of coal handling facilities and upgradation of general cargo berths at its outer harbour to cater to 200,000 deadweight tonnage capacity vessels.

The five consortium companies are
1. Sterlite Industries-Leighton Contractors
2. Vadinar Oil Terminal-Essar Ports & Terminal
3. Gammon Infrastructure Projects-John Laing Investment
4. IMICO-Punj Lloyd
5. Mundra Port and SEZ-Adani Enterprises
The solo bidder is L&T Transco.

The proposed project is slated to be completed by November 2011. The port's capacity for handling imported coal is likely to be raised by 5 million tonnes per annum. The estimated cost of the project is INR 440 crore. This is part of additional 10 million tonnes per annum capacity VPT plans to create for handling imported coal, the other plan being the development of EQ-1A berth in the inner harbour to handle steam coal and coke. For this, the RFQ had been issued in June 2009.

(Sourced from Project Today)