A Hyderabad-based infrastructure development company had shown interest in developing the Karwar port at a cost of Rs 1,000 cr.
BANGALORE: Deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa said here on Saturday, a Hyderabad-based infrastructure development company had shown interest in developing the Karwar port at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore. The company, North Kanara Sea Ports Private Limited, had proposed to develop the port under BOOST (build, own, operate, share and transfer) arrangement with the state government holding 11% equity (which could alse be in the form of land) in the project, the deputy CM said.
"Going by the presentation, I feel our dependency on the Chennai port would reduce drastically if Karwar port is developed to international standards," Yediyurappa said. The company promises to make Karwar the gateway of Karnataka, the deputy chief minister added. Company's director M V S R Kamesam said the masterplan includes developing the existing two berths, create infrastructure to handle large vessels and modernising the port. "With two power projects coming up along the coastline and iron-ore export expected to rise significantly, we propose to add six berths to the port by 2011," he added. Yediyurappa said a decision in this regard would be taken by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and his brother, ports minister H D Revanna.