Five Indian companies in race to manage Birgunj ICD

Published On: January 30, 2020 10:20 AM NPT By: Ritesh Tripathi

BIRGUNJ, Jan 30: Five companies have submitted their bid documents expressing interest to take over the management of Inland Container Depot of Birgunj.

According to Intermodal Transportation Development Committee, five companies have submitted their bids by January 24 – the last day to submit bids. The minimum estimated amount is Rs 2.4 billion for a period of five years.

Container Corporation of India Ltd – an entity of Indian Railways, Adani Logistics Ltd – the operator of Mundra Dry Port of Gujarat and Dhamra Dry Port of Odisha, Pristine Logistics – the operator of Kanpur ICD, J M Bakshi Group – the operator of dry ports in Visakhapatnam and Haldia, and Apna Logistics Solution-Jagdamba JV of Hyderabad are competing in the bidding process, according to officials of the committee.

"We will first open and evaluate technical proposals of all the five bidders. We will then open financial proposals of the shortlisted bidders," Homindra Mohan Shahi, an officer at Intermodal Transportation Development Committee, told Republica.

Intermodal Transportation Development Committee is the government agency that oversees management of dry ports.

“We are currently evaluating technical proposals of the bidders. It will take around one and half months to complete all the procedures," he added.

The successful bidder will have to look after overall management of Birgunj ICD, including operation and management of freighter trains, loading and unloading of trains and warehousing etc of imported and exported goods.

Himalayan Terminal has been looking after the management of Birgunj ICD ever since its inception. It received contract for the second term of five years in January, 2015. Himalayan Terminal first bagged the management contract in 2004, agreeing to pay the committee Rs 530 million for 10 years.
Container Corporation of India Ltd is the major shareholder of Himalayan Terminal.

According to traders, dry port has made trading lot easier. Use of railway service for transport of goods is safer and faster compared to roads, they added.