Team Herald
VASCO: Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) Chairman I Jeyakumar said on Monday that MPT has in principle agreed to the proposal to develop special berths for the Navy and Coast Guard on the western side of the existing cruise berth terminal under Mormugao Port’s jurisdiction.
“We have received quite a few proposals from the Defence, including the proposal to design special berths for Navy and Coast Guard. Initially Navy had proposed dedicated berths below the hill having FOGA office and right opposite to our break water. Now, Navy has revised the idea and they want dedicated berths west of our cruise terminal berths,” Jeyakumar said.
In order to take up a preliminary study and prepare a detailed project report for the special berths, MPT has asked the Navy to pay the preliminary expenses. “Once they pay the money only then we will start the process,” he said.
Jeyakumar further said that though the projects have been cleared by the port’s board of trustees and the Union Shipping Ministry, MPT will not start work on the project before getting a formal financial commitment from the Defence Ministry.
“They have to give a money commitment to us otherwise we cannot award the contract. Unless they pay in advance we will not take any step in the project. Such a decision has been taken to avoid facing any loss as there are possibilities that after we complete our preliminary conceptual design works of the berths, including layout of naval structures, defence security facilities and other project facilities, if they reject the proposal then it would be a loss to MPT,” he said.
He added, “The estimated cost of the project would be around Rs 400 crore. As per the Defence Ministry they wanted 450 meters length of berths to create berthing facilities for larger warships. They have said that within two to three month the Defence Ministry will confirm the proposal and if all goes well then we will be in position to complete the project in a minimum of three years. All this is in the concept stage.”
