The Defence Ministry's denial to part with 43 acre has landed the proposed
container terminal at Diamond Harbour is in troubled waters.
The project is under the Kolkata Dock System of the Kolkata Port Trust and
the land acquisition is crucial for the project.
The proposed terminal, with six jetties - four for handling ocean-going
vessels and two for barges, was to come up over 125 acre to be provided by
agencies such as Defence Ministry (43 acre), private landowners (40 acre),
Directorate of Lighthouses (24 acre), West Bengal PWD and Fisheries Departments
(together 15 acre) and the Railways (2.5 acre).
CES, the New Delhi based consultancy firm had submitted a DPR in June 2008,
estimating the cost of the project at Rs 1,233 crore.
According to sources, the Railways are keen that the Diamond Harbour
container terminal project comes up early. RITES is working on a project report
linking the terminal with the railway freight hub being planned at Dankuni in
the outskirts of Kolkata.
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