KARACHI, Jan 31: The Karachi Port has appointed consultants for designing of a cargo village and an industrial park, to be set up over an area of 1303 acres through reclamation of land in the western backwaters of the port.

The design consultancy has been awarded to German consultants, M/s INROS Lackner

AG-Germany, on a consultancy fee of Rs76.5 million, to be completed in a period of nine months, official sources said on Wednesday.

The rapid economic growth resulting in higher volumes of imports and exports warranted for broader and futuristic vision for expansion of port facilities which are no more possible within the present area of the Karachi Port. Consequently, the port authorities search of new vistas and possibilities to meet the future challenges and facilitate trade and industry of the country.

As a result of this compelling situation, the KPT hired the services of world renowned consultants to look into these possibilities which would enable the port not only to enhance its cargo handling capacity, but also equally provide sufficient back-up support and facilities for handing a higher volume of containerised cargo.

Among its foremost priorities, the KPT has taken up the task of developing a deep-sea container terminal at Keamari and a cargo village along with an industrial park on the western backwaters of the port.

The feasibility study for the cargo village had been carried out by American consultants who examined the cargo handling, storage, dispatch constraints, with a view to set up an off-dock facility in the shape of cargo village where a variety of port and transport-related support services, such as inland container depots (ICD), container freight stations (CFS), bonded warehouses, auction parks, export processing operation and distribution activities are consolidated in a centralised location within an economic distance from the port.

After carrying out extensive study, the American consultants strongly recommended development of cargo village and industrial park in phases.

Based on the recommendations of the feasibility, the KPT in the first step recently singed an agreement for detailed designing of cargo village and industrial park.

The project development plan envisages creation of around 1303 acres through reclamation process. However, under phase one around 330 acres would be required.

The scope of work will include feasibility and master plan study and detailed designing and tendering for inviting bids of four infrastructure components of cargo village and industrial park, including channel and quay wall, dredging, reclamation, soil-strengthening and stabilisation, construction of bund, approach and internal roads, including connections, railway links, water supply, electrical, sewerage and sewer system and fire- fighting system.

The consultants will also have to make designing for plantation of mangroves in the area, common user facilities, administrative and commercial buildings, emergency response system and security requirements.

The task would inter alia include detailed construction drawings, cost estimates and tender documents for infrastructure development works.