Dighi Port will soon take up Rs. 12,000-mn CapEx projects

Mumbai: Dighi Port, which handles annually 700,000 tonnes of bauxite (meant for exports), is progressing ahead with its Rs. 12,000-million worth expansion programme. Dighi, a lighterage all weather port, is situated at Rajpuri Creek in Raigadh district of Maharashtra.

Mr. Vijay G. Kalantri, Chairman & Managing Director of Dighi Port spoke to LNNnews.com on the developments pertaining to investment plans.

The port, according to Mr. Kalantri, is a “Gateway to Maharashtra”, and “it is India’s first port to get environmental clearance”, he said. It has good connectivity, connecting National Highway No. 17 and State Highways, SH 90, 97, and 98, and 45-kms away from the main railhead, he added.

We are now close to achieve financial closure, and “I think” by October, we’ll finish it, Mr. Kalantri said. According to him, the expansion of the port will be carried out in two phases, with Rs. 6,000-mn investment in each phase.

The first phase envisages setting up of five berths; one each for container, liquid and other cargo while 2 berths will be exclusive for bulk cargo, he said. The Phase I will also see increasing of the draft size from the present (natural) 8.5-mtrs to 12.5-mtrs and in phase II, the size will further be lengthened to 16-mtrs, to facilitate big vessels to call at the port, he added.

In Phase II, the port will take up special economic zone project initially in about 1,000 acres of land near its complex. The company has received necessary approvals from the Government. The Phase II will also see, coming up of rail link connecting the port with the main railhead.

Port of Venice to render operational consultancy service, while Dalal Mott Mac Donald has been retained as owners’ consultant. Halcrow of United Kingdom is designing the port.

Mr. Kalantri said: “We have started receiving a lot of enquiries from companies, wanting to set up their shops in SEZ,” he said. The port will encourage industries like, electricity generation, automobile, textiles, engineering, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, he added.

According to Mr. Kalantri, the port may consider developing its own ship manufacturing and repairing facilities in the second phase. The Phase I is scheduled for commissioning in 2008, while the second phase will be completed by 2009-10.

Mr. Kalantri said: “We are also planning to have a “Free Trade Zone” in our port facility.”

While commenting on the marketing of the port, Mr. Kalantri said: “We are receiving lots of offers for inland coastal shipments.” The port has already signed up MoUs’ to handle 6-million tonnes of cargo comprising coal, cement and steel. Negotiations for to sign in some more MoUs are in the offing, he added.

The port in the meantime has projected to handle about 15-million TEUs’ in 2008-09, the first year, after commencing the container berth. Mr. Kalantri said they anticipate containers movement (inbound and outbound) will get started before formally commissioning of the facility.

Dighi Port is a joint venture initiative with Balaji Infra Projects, owned by Kalantri family, has 51 percent stake, Maharashtra State Government 11 percent and 15 percent with Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS). The remaining stocks will be given to strategic partners.