S'pore wants to build Ctg Bay Terminal
NAZIMUDDIN SHYAMOL | Monday, 18 September 2023
CHATTOGRAM, Sept 17: Singapore has shown interest to build the Chittagong Port Bay Terminal. The country wants to operate the terminal for next 30 years after building it.
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail said, "Many countries have shown interest in the Bay Terminal. Meanwhile, the Singapore Port has shown interest to operate the terminal for next 30 years after building it. The CPA and the ministry concerned are now discussing the offer."
"The CPA has to build the Chittagong Port Bay Terminal by joint venture with other countries.
We can have the Bay Terminal through build-operate-transfer (BOT) system. The CPA has the opportunity to choose the best offer to construct the terminal."
"Of the three planned terminals, one terminal will be built by the CPA. The two other terminals will be allotted to foreign companies through public-private partnership (PPP)," he added.
The Chattogram district administration handed over 68 acres of land to the CPA in October last year for the terminal project. However, the CPA requested to lease the land at a nominal price.
Sources said the final master-plan for construction of the Bay Terminal is now in its final stage, and it will be completed within this month (September).
All preparations, including land acquisition and design, have been taken for construction of the terminal. Now, the CPA is continuing dredging for it. The ground-breaking work of the terminal is likely to start next month.
The CPA also submitted the DPP. After getting its approval, the process of tender and other procedures would start within this year.
The CPA would set up the Bay Terminal on 900 acres of land on Patenga coastline with all modern facilities to mobilise port activities and reduce transportation cost. It is likely to be operational in 2026.
The terminal would allow big ships, which now cannot berth at the Chittagong Port jetties. It is expected to increase the port's container handling capacity by up to 5.0 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) yearly from the existing 3.1 million TEUs. It is also expected to contribute 2-3 per cent to the growth of the national economy.