Infrastructure
Forty firms respond to VPT's road work tender
MORE than 40 reputed firms have responded to the pre-qualification tender floated by the Port Road Company, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) jointly formed by the Vizag Port Trust (VPT) and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). The Rs 100-crore
road work project will connect the port with the National Highway-5.
VPT's IT project to be ready by July
HAVING suffered considerable delays due to various reasons, Vizag port's ambitious information technology project to monitor the entire gamut of its cargo-handling operations is likely to be wrapped up by July 2001.
Developing highways -- Why so many twists in annuity method?
THE much-publicised annuity method to have highways constructed with private participation has come in for sharp criticism from various quarters. Not without reason though. The criticism might appear justified, particularly against the backdrop of the En
ron experience in the power sector. After all, the annuity method, if adopted for construction of highways, will, it is pointed out, entail a drain on the country's road building resources despite the Government taking the major risks relating to traffic
.
Shipping
Chennai's loss, others' gain
If the present situation is any indication, the continuing strike at Chennai port might be a boon to neighbouring ports. Container Corporation of India (Concor) has already started diverting export containers, due for shipments through Chennai, to Tutico
rin port.
Tough tender conditions -- Why are Indian firms being dredged out?
IS IT necessary for a dredging firm to have at least Rs 500 crore of turnover to execute a job worth less than Rs 300 crore? The question is uppermost in the minds of many in port and shipping circles in the wake of the floatation of a global tender on c
apital dredging by a major port.
No containing the strike in Chennai port
THE `go slow' by the 400-odd workers at the Chennai container terminal berth (CTB) has not only affected the terminal operations for almost two weeks, but also started to affect industries in and around Chennai.
Transport
Rail consignment to Gede delayed
Exports to Bangladesh via the Land Customs Stations in Bengal have been affected by a new set of problems. An export consignment of de-oiled soyabean meal (16,49,500 tonnes) despatched by rail on April 11 to Bangladesh (Darshana) via Gede (Eastern Railwa
ys) from Salamatpur (Central Railways) has not reached Gede yet, trade sources say.
Movement of mango by rail -- When hard work does not bear fruit
MANGO farmers, like most of the other farmers in Andhra Pradesh this year, are in great distress as there is plenty of fruit, though of poor quality, and the prices have risen over the past month or so. The most sought-after variety from the State, Banga
napalli, is going at the low rate of Rs 5,000 per tonne at the local market as against the usual price of Rs 10,000 and above. Totapuri and other varieties are faring much worse.
