For the past year, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) has been floating tenders in a bid to attract infrastructure companies to modernize and upgrade Malim Jetty (North Goa) and Cortalim Jetty (South Goa). But so far, GSIDC has failed to attract bidders and so the corporation has re-tendered the project for the third time.
Speaking to Herald, GSIDC, Chairman, Dr Pramod Sawant said, “This is the third time GSIDC has floated the tender as in the past attempts no bidders had shown interest in the project. At the time when the second tender was floated, only one bidder had submitted a bid, but as per the bidding process, we cannot open the bid if only a single company has bid and that forced us to re-tender the project for the third time.”
“The estimated cost for development and up-gradation of the Malim and Cortalim jetty is approximately around Rs 59.33 crore and the recent re-tendering has not escalated the cost,” he added
It was revealed that the first tender, floated on April 22, 2016, had to be cancelled for various reasons and a second tender was floated on October 15, 2016 which attracted a single bidder. With two setbacks, GSIDC re-tendered the project for a third time on November 15 and the last date for opening of the tender is December 2, 2016.
However, All Goa Purse Seine Boat Association (AGPBA) President Harish Dhond said Malim jetty is crying for infrastructural up-gradation and if there are no bidders for the project the government should attempt some other means to complete the project on a priority basis as the condition of the jetty are worsening.
“All maintenance works are carried out by Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Co-op Society for which not a single rupee is paid by the government. The marketing shed, where fishermen sell their catch was constructed from the society’s funds. There is also an acute space crunch with hundreds of trawlers anchored there and no basic facilities, not even toilets,” Dhond said.
The fishing community at Malim told Herald that for years modernization of facilities at the jetty have been neglected, leading to a lack of proper sanitation facilities, poor drinking water quality and absence of basic infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Malim jetty expansion project is estimated to cost Rs 59 crore. The project includes construction of a T-shaped jetty (approx 80mm) for landing, berthing of vessels and slipway/boat repair ramp. The expanded jetty will cater to a fleet of 380 motorized fishing vessels.
Other salient features include construction of piled platform, auction halls, administration building comprising of a bank, grocery, spare parts shop and administration offices, electrical and mechanical room, public toilets, guard house and other utility areas with concrete surfaces, overhead tank, waste water treatment plant and a compound wall.
