Deal for Payra Port master plan tomorrow

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DHAKA, Feb 13, 2019 (BSS)-Payra Port Authority (PPA) will sign an agreement with Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation (BRTC),BUET tomorrow for ‘Consultancy Services for Preparation of Payra Port Detailed Master Plan’ for overall development of the 3rd seaport of the country.

The 124 crore,96 lakh and eighty thousand consultancy proposal of BRTC, BUET in association with internationally recognized port consultant Royal HaskoningDHV has been approved by the Prime Minister, said PPA chairman M Jahangir Alam.

Talking to BSS, he said preparations for the Master plan with related reports and documents will be completed by the consultant within 18 months. Sources said 29 BUET professors and 61 experts of Royal HaskoningDHV will be employed during execution of the contract.

Payra Port is the 3rd seaport of the country on the bank of Rabnabad channel of Patuakhali district in the south of the country. Payra Port is one of the “10 Fast Track” projects which is being implemented by the government with top priority.

Under a mid-term-plan, Payra Port Authority will implement construction of first terminal, capital dredging of Ramnabad Channel, coal and dry bulk terminal, multipurpose terminal through the 3rd Indian Line of Credit (LOC), sources said.

In the long-term-plan, the PPA plans to implement transshipment terminal, deep-water container terminal, offshore terminal or supply base, core port infrastructure, renewable power generation, housing, education health facilities, procurement of Towage Harbour Tugs and internal ferry terminal etc.

Other necessary infrastructures like air port, rail connectivity, ship yard and ship repair facility, LNG and Liquid Bulk Terminal will be built by other ministries concerned.

For each of above components, the consultant will deliver Feasibility Study Report, ESIA (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment).

The Detailed Port Master Plan will be developed by the consultants through Topographic Surveys, Site Investigations and Modeling Studies. Exact location of terminals and all necessary port Components and infrastructures will be sketched on the Master Plan.

In case of both mid and long term projects of Payra Port Authority, priority and implementation strategy of components will be finalized on the basis of Master Plan reports. The most useful aspect of Master Plan is documentation of Feasibility Study Report, ESIA, etc.

“In future, Payra Port will be the leader in sea borne trade in terms of efficiency and competitiveness by adopting development strategy including port smartification and technology. The master Plan Report will be significantly helpful in adopting plans for socio-economic and industrial development encircling Payra Port,” said Jahangir.

Ultimately, this port will make southern part of Bangladesh economically vibrant, he added.