It is also awaiting permission from the surface transport ministry to lease out two of its berths at Haldia dock.

Port authorities have formulated a draft proposal for a JV through strategic alliance with domestic or foreign port operators, like PSA Corporation of Singapore and P&O Ports of Australia, for a container terminal, ministry sources said.

After approval of the board of trustees, CPT will seek government approval for the project, envisaging capacity of upto five million tonnes at Netaji Subhas dock, they added.

Besides, the CPT has already approached the Centre for permission to lease out two of its multipurpose berths at Haldia Dock to private parties.

Meanwhile, the port authorities are awaiting the Centre's approval for the offer of International Seaport Pvt Ltd to have a multipurpose berth (4a) at the Haldia dock on BOT basis with 30 year lease period.

The proposal, evincing an investment of Rs 50 crore in developing and modernising the 1.5 million tonne capacity berth, had been lying with the ministry for sometime now. A decision on the proposal was likely to take some time as issues like revenue sharing agreement and minimum traffic guarantee clause were yet to be sorted out with the international port operator, sources said.

Calcutta Port would be the second port after Cochin, to have chosen the joint venture route for capacity addition projects.

Cochin Port is presently examining the lone bid of P&O Ports of Australia for forming a joint venture for development of a five million tonne container terminal and a transhipment terminal at an estimated cost of Rs 600 crore.