Leighton Contractors India, a subsidiary of Leighton Group of Australia, has drawn up an investment plan for two port projects in India.

The company plans to invest about $50 million (approximately `220 crore) in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and Paradip (Orissa) ports in a consortium with Sterlite Industries Ltd, a Vedanta Group company.

While the companies will jointly mechanise coal-handling facilities at Visakhapatnam Port, they will develop a multipurpose berth for clean cargo at Paradip Port.

At Visakhapatnam Port, Leighton will undertake construction work that includes widening the existing 350-metre long general cargo berth by 21 metres for coal unloading, as well as providing foundations for 2.5-km conveyor gallery and the construction of a new stockyard and administration building. Work is expected to begin in July and completed by mid-2012.

The Paradip Port project involves the construction of a 405x32 metre berth with expected capacity of 5 million tpa. All berth construction, soil improvement and civil works associated with the 9.2-km new rail link will be undertaken by Leighton India. Work on the project will start later this year andcompleted in 2012.

Russell Waugh, Managing Director, Leighton Contractors India, said: "The Indian market presents enormous opportunities for Leighton, and we are well positioned with a strong mix of international experience and local knowledge to capitalise on the pipeline of projects coming forward over the coming years."