RITES Ltd, on behalf of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), has invited requests for qualification (RFQ) from private sector participants for the development and operation of bulk foodgrain handling, storage and transportation facilities.

The project, to be executed on build, own and operate (BOO) basis, would involve procurement of land and other assets and design, engineering and construction of the proposed facilities at the applicants’ own cost. The facilities would have to be state-of-the-art, fully mechanised and automated bulk grain terminals complete with railhead facilities for loading/unloading of unit train loads. Transportation of grain from base depots to field depots is proposed to be undertaken by rail by deployment of special type bulk transport railway wagons. The development and procurement of appropriate wagon type for operation of unit trains also forms part of the privatisation project.

Procurement of bulk transport rail wagons would be commensurate with the transportation requirements as decided by FCI in consultation with Indian Railways. In the first instance, the concession period would be of 20 years, excluding the project implementation period.

FCI would be the exclusive user of facilities set up under the project and would provide compensation for guaranteed utilisation of the assets.

The project envisages setting up of base depots and field depots at the following centres:

The last date for submission of RFQ documents is 18 February 2002.

For details, kindly visit www.rites.com

The last date for submission of RFQ documents has subsequently been extended to 31 March 2002.