Bheemili port in 5 years

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, June 10, 2013: The authorities at Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) are hopeful that the proposed satellite port at Bheemili, 28kms away from here, will come into operation within 3 to 5 years from now.

The port at Bheemii was proposed on the lines of Ennre Port, which is a satellite port to Chennai major port to decongest its traffic.  The VPT has recently finalized a Delhi based consultant firm, Aecom to prepare a Detailed Feasibility Report (DFR) for both satellite port and a fishing harbour at Bheemili after calling global tenders. 

The present port handles around 68 million tonnes of cargo every year and it is expected to touch 100million tonnes in coming years which necessitated setting up a satellite port under the administrative control of VPT to decongest traffic.

Ennore Port, located about 24 km north of Chennai Port is the only corporatised major port and is registered as a company. The Centre holds a stake of about 68 per cent in the Ennore Port and the remaining 32 per cent is held by the Chennai Port Trust (CPT). Ennore Port, designed as Asia's energy port, is the first corporatised port in India and has only 86 employees.

Around 12 firms including some globally renowned, responded to the global tenders. The consultant firm would submit DFR in two covers one – technical proposal and another financial proposal.  VPT will begin operations with an initial cargo handling capacity of 15 to 20 million tonnes at Bheemili port.

The consultant firm will submit its report within 6 months after studying topographical, hydrological and other relevant aspects like projected traffic down the line two decades, to establish a port.

VPT already has 172 acres at Mulakedu near Bheemili with waterfront area of two kilometers, which was allotted by the revenue department in lieu of 240 acres it surrendered for the expansion of INS Dega Airport.

“Bheemili port will be like Ennore Port of Chennai Port Trust (CPT) under the administrative control of VPT.  With the given advanced technologies in construction sector and other related areas once the DFR is submitted and necessary financial clearances come from the Centre we are hopeful that we can begin operations with in 3 to 5 years from now. Majority of the land required is also available with VPT at Bheemili,” VPT chief engineer K Ramachandra Rao told this correspondent.

 He added that Centre would decide the financial pattern whether will there be a portion of private partnership or fully owned by government and its agencies.