Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Captain of Ports Department has clarified that the recently floated tender for the operation and maintenance of the Captain of Ports Terminal Building and allied jetty facilities does not involve privatisation or transfer of ownership of the government-owned assets.
The department said the tender provides for professional operation, maintenance and management of specified facilities under an operation and maintenance framework. Ownership of the Terminal Building and jetties will continue to remain with the government, while the Captain of Ports Department will retain its statutory, regulatory, supervisory and administrative functions.
Under the tender framework, the selected operator will be responsible for operating and maintaining the facilities during the prescribed concession period. Statutory wharfage, berthing and other charges payable by vessel operators will continue to be paid to the Authority.
The operator will undertake functions including routine and preventive maintenance, housekeeping, sanitation, passenger facilities, security, surveillance, access control, utilities and other facility-management services.
The department said the operator will also be required to provide security deployment and real-time access to a Jetty Operations Management Dashboard. The dashboard will contain information relating to passengers, vessel movements, arrival and departure timings, berthing utilisation, dues, user fees, incidents and maintenance activities.
The Captain of Ports Department further clarified that casino operators will not be eligible to participate in the tender.
According to the department, major structural repairs to jetty facilities will remain the responsibility of the Authority under the tender provisions. This, it said, further demonstrates that ownership and responsibility for the public assets are not being transferred.
The department said the proposed public-private partnership model is intended to ensure professional management and better economic utilisation of the public infrastructure while reducing the recurring operational burden on the government.
The selected bidder will be required to pay an annual licence fee to the government as well as a specified percentage of gross revenue generated from the project. Commercial facilities such as the rooftop restaurant, cafeteria, amphitheatre and ticketing counters may be utilised under the regulatory framework prescribed by the Authority.
The department said the arrangement is aimed at ensuring better maintenance of maritime infrastructure, improved safety and services for passengers and vessel operators, and sustainable revenue generation for the government.
“There is no proposal to sell or privatise the Captain of Ports Terminal Building or Government jetties,” the department said, reiterating that government ownership, statutory authority and regulatory oversight would remain fully protected.
The department said it remains committed to ensuring that Goa’s maritime infrastructure is operated transparently, safely and efficiently.
