GUWAHATI: In light of recent events, the Inland waterways authority of India (IWAI) has decided to lease out 2 ports in Assam, to a private company - A TO Z EXIM.
Dhubri and Pandu Ports are being given to the private party in operation and maintenance module.
The Centre is seen in a spree to privatise its entities. Previously Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport was handed over to Adani.
Similarly, this time the government has decided to lease out the two ports under the IWAI (Inland Waterways Authority of India) to the private company on an O&M (Operation and Maintenance) basis for five years.
This move aims to improve specific operations, such as enhancing container train services for tea exports and facilitating the transportation of coal, steel, bitumen, and fly ash for export, claimed the officials of the private party.
Speaking on this, the Managing Director of A TO Z EXIM, Sohail Kazani said that whatever revenue the private party generates, royalty will be given to the government.
“The decided volume target for Pandu in the next year is set at 100,000 tons with plans to increasing it to 1 million tons per annum,” said Kazani.
However, the target has been set at 1 million tons per year at Dhubri Port.
Following the handover, when inquired about the status of employees under IWAI overseeing port operations, the Director of IWAI, A Selvakumar said that there is currently no manpower managing port operations. “However, through this deal, there will be an increase in manpower,” claimed the Director.
He further stated that, the company will be responsible for bringing more cargo in both these ports, otherwise there will be penalties levied.
The private party has already started operating the Dhubri port from August 25 and the Pandu port operation will start from September 6.
