Mumbai: Dubai-based port operator DP World has awarded a $150m contract for the construction of a container terminal at Vallarpadam in Southern India. "We have scheduled a Bhoomi puja (ground breaking ceremony) for next Monday and expect the Simplex Consortium to start work on the project by mid to late December," a DP World spokesperson told SeatradeAsia-Online.
"At present the expected date to start operations for the first phase of one million teu is April 2009," the spokesperson said, adding that mid-December 2009 is a more likely deadline.
The Vallarpadam terminal, constructed as part of DP World's 2005 license agreement with the Cochin Port Trust, is expected to boast a planned capacity of three million teu when complete, which the port operator anticipates will make it the largest container terminal in India according to capacity.
DP World currently owns six container terminals around India, situated at Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Kulpi and also Cochin - which will give way to the Vallarpadam terminal. [26/11/07]
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. Add Seatrade Maritime News to your Google News feed.
