Vasco-Dona Paula sea-link feasibility study begins
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, APRIL 29
Louis Berger, the German company that recently bagged the contract for undertaking techno-feasibility study for the proposed sea-link project between Vasco and Dona Paula, has started its work.
“The consultant has begun work and an office has been set up somewhere in Dona Paula,” said Director of Public Private Participation (PPP) Cell Anupam Kishore.
He told Herald that as per the terms and conditions of the contract, altogether 18 months is the period within which the consultant will have to complete its work.
He said the work would be taken up in three phases. In the first phase, the company will work on the techno-feasibility study.
Only if the Rs 1000-plus crore project is feasible, then the consultant will move to the next phase, Kishore said. Otherwise, it would be abandoned.
The consultant which was appointed earlier this month, has been asked to conduct techno-environmental financial study, concept design, technical feasibility with alignment, investigation and financial and economic feasibility. Later, it will also have to undertake environmental impact assessment, environmental clearances and social impact assessments. The consultant will be required to prepare the bid documents for appointment of BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) operator and concession agreement, etc.
Kishore who also doubles up as Joint Secretary (Debt Management) said the consultant would also identify the point on the Panjim side where the project would link.
Though initially, the government had said that the sea-link would be between Dona Paula and Vasco, discussions held since then, seem to have taken one line – that it should be in Bambolim so that it links the national highway (NH17). Nonetheless, the consultant is expected to give in detail, its analysis on the feasibility.
The techno-feasibility study will have to be completed in six months and based on that report the government would take the final call.
The consultant’s fee is around Rs 8 crore. Kishore however said that if the report says the project is not feasible then the company would be paid only for the first phase. It may be recalled that there was a good response from global consultants for the project. Firms from Singapore, Hong Kong, and even Europe had sent in their bids which ultimately the German company bagged.
This is the first major project conceived by the State government on PPP basis.
On whether the government has approached National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) before going ahead with the proposal for sea-link, PPP director said it would be the job of the company to consult NIO.
The estimated cost of the project will be more than Rs 1,000 crore. An official said that 40 per cent of the total cost will be made available by the Centre in the form of viability gap funding.
He said 20 per cent of the cost will be borne by the State government while the remaining 40 per cent will be made available from private sector investors. The consultant would also throw more light on how to go about on the financial feasibility.
