PANAJI
The Goa government has withdrawn its e-tender for the public-private partnership (PPP) operation of the Captain of Ports Terminal Building and its allied jetty facilities, but the plan remains on course.
The Ports Department is exploring a fresh tender and considering bringing Goa Electronics Limited (GEL) on board to address bidders’ concerns and improve revenue generation, safety and asset management.
Captain of Ports Octavio Rodrigues said the withdrawal followed queries and suggestions from several bidders, prompting the department to revisit the tender conditions before inviting fresh bids. The government will retain the PPP model while incorporating changes to improve the project’s financial viability and operational oversight.
“We received many bidders for the project, and they had many queries as well as suggestions. In the interest of all these inputs, we have to improve revenue generation and consider measures for better asset management, safety, security and monitoring. As such, it has been withdrawn. We will come up with a new e-tender ...” Rodrigues told The Goan.
He clarified that the withdrawal does not signal a retreat from the PPP arrangement. Instead, the department wants to revise the terms to secure better returns for the government while ensuring that the newly built facility remains properly maintained. “We don’t want the building to deteriorate,” he added.
Rodrigues stressed that outsourcing maintenance would not transfer ownership or unrestricted control of the government asset to a private operator. The terminal building will remain under government ownership, while the private operator will provide maintenance services under the proposed arrangement.
“The asset management will be there, but it does not mean the entire custody or rights will be given into the hands of the private player. The building will continue to be entirely part of the government, while services for its maintenance will be outsourced,” he said.
The department is also reassessing the facility’s revenue-generating potential. Rodrigues said the government remains committed to the project in the public interest and is examining the suggestions received before finalising the revised tender.
“GEL could be roped in to help address the concerns raised by prospective bidders,” he said.
Spread across 4,405 square metres, the G+3 terminal houses administrative offices, the marine and hydrographic divisions, communication and security systems, conference facilities and passenger amenities. The complex also features a 450-seat amphitheatre, an indoor restaurant and recreational spaces designed to open up the waterfront for public use.
