The ministry of surface transport had appointed the corporation to draw up a document which could be used as a model for bidding in all private port projects.

The ministry had also asked IDFC to evaluate some bidding documents. According to sources, IDFC charged Rs 3.5 lakh as consultancy fee.

The assignment for drawing up a model document was initially being entrusted to SBI Caps. With IDFC entering the field of infrastructure financing, the ministry decided to award the job to it. In fact, at one point, the bidding document being used by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust was being considered to be used as a model.

According to sources, the ministry is in the process of studying the draft. It has also sent the draft document to various major port trusts for their opinion.

Once the port trusts and the ministry finalise their comments on the draft, it would be sentback to IDFC for a final document.

Port sector has been opened for private sector participation in construction and operation of container terminals, multipurpose and specialised cargo berths, warehousing, storage facilities, tank farms, container freight stations, setting up of captive power plants, etc.

Private sector response, especially from multinationals, in container handling has been substantial. Container terminals at Kandla, Kochi, JNPT and Tuticorin are being developed on BOT basis with a standard 30-year concession period during which the port trusts will not set up parallel facility.

The private sector can also build captive facilities for their own use at the ports.The ports can also lease out assets while private companies can lease equipment for cargo handling and floating rafts to the ports.

Besides the privatisation guidelines, the Union government in June last year had framed guidelines for joint venture formation.