Kolkata Port Extends Bids For Hooghly Riverfront Beautification And Rejuvenation To Aug 1

In a bid to fructify a major riverfront beautification and commercial development project near the iconic Howrah bridge here, the Kolkata Port (now known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port) is evaluating suggestions of prospective bidders received after inviting expression of interests for the initiative.

The project, which is in line with the union government’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and its plan to monetise assets of public sector entities, could usher investment of hundreds of crores and open another revenue stream for the Kolkata Port, SMP (Kolkata Port) chairman Vinit Kumar told PTI in a telephonic interview.

The port intends to develop an ‘iconic riverfront commercial complex’ with robust infrastructure at the prime business district and vantage point of Kolkata city on Strand Road surrounding the Armenian Ghat.

The waterfront rejuvenation plan envisages transforming the prime real estate around Armenian Ghat jetty that has been lying waste for decades into a happening zone with a boutique hotel, banquet hall, high-street shopping mall, office complexes, auditorium, sports complex and multi-car parking plaza at an adjoining plot of land.

As part of the project, Armenian Ghat jetty will also be restored and refurbished for people to take a cruise or ferry across the river. Armenian jetty will be hold the key to promotion of heritage tours to Belur Math, Dakshineswar and Chandernagore to the north and Falta, Diamond Harbour, Raichak or Garchumuk to the south.

The three plots comprise a 4,490 sqm vacant land between Strand Road and Strand Bank Road that housed the Strand Warehouse till it was burnt down in a deadly fire several years ago, a 4,390 sqm plot adjoining the river that has the Armenian Ghat shed, and a 4,670 sqm plot with a section burnt down that houses the jetty shed.

Bids extended to August 1

The port has extended the last date for submission of bids by a month to August 1 to accommodate the proposed changes, according to chairman Vinit Kumar.

''There is good response from prospective bidders for the proposed Hooghly riverfront development project around the Armenian ghat. They have suggested some changes in bid terms and conditions which we are evaluating. We will take necessary action in this regard for a win-win proposition,''

“With the invitation of expression of interests, we are trying to find which model would be the best suited for the project so that it would bring the maximum private investment. The suggestions will help us decide the most suitable model for execution,” Kumar said.

According to the EoI document, the proposed development is supposed to be executed either through a 30-year land lease model or on a public-private partnership mode.

“If a 30-year lease for the land parcels is considered, the base price excluding taxes will be approximately Rs 62 crore,'' an official said. Roughly, 3.6 acres of land in three plots next to each other, adjacent to the Armenian Ghat, will be offered by the port for the development.

Kumar said the Maritime India Vision 2030 outlines 10 key themes which are essential for India to secure its place at the forefront of the global maritime sector.

One of the ten key themes focuses on promoting ocean, coastal and river cruise sector.

“Therefore, in order to support cruise tourism in Kolkata ,the land bank of Hooghly riverfront needs to be developed with hospitality, leisure, recreation, adventure, amusement and entertainment for Kolkata citizens and tourists,'' Kumar added.

(With inputs from PTI)