Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata drives PM Gati Shakti National Plan under the leadership of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP) (erstwhile Kolkata Port Trust) is playing a key role in the strategic planning and development of integrated connectivity approach for creation of modern infrastructure and competitive logistics supply chain under the National Gati Shakti plan. SMP which holds the unique advantage of having rail, road and inland water connectivity (NW 1 and 2) provides immense opportunities for stakeholders to use the port ecosystem to create a sustainable ecosystem for the transit of goods. The port has undertaken various projects to augment capacity, modernize infrastructure, monetization of asset and digitize operations and procedures through technological interventions.
The port has successfully completed many projects while many others are under implementation. SMP has completed the following projects and others are in progress to enhance the connectivity of the port to provide seamless end to end delivery of services through multimodal connectivity systems.
Completed Projects (Approx. Rs. 700 crores)
1. Setting up of 2nd railway line from Durgachak to HDC
Rs. 117 Cr.
2. Modernization / Upgradation of railway network at KDS & 2 full length lines
Rs. 70 Cr.
3. Rail Over Bridge at Ranichak, HDC
Rs.128 Cr.
4. Road Infrastructure (Phase-I)
Rs. 103 Cr.
5. 2 floating cranes at Sagar/ Sandhead and barge jetty at HDC
Rs. 138 Cr.
6. Yard Development at KDS & HDC
Rs. 130 Cr.
The port has also taken commenced many projects to modernize and create infrastructure. Some of the key ongoing projects are mentioned below:
Ongoing Projects (Approx. Rs. 1700 crores)
1. 2 liquid jetties: OT II and Shalukhalli
Rs. 300 Cr.
Status : Ongoing
2. Mechanization Projects at Berth No 2 at HDC and KP Docks
Rs. 500 Cr.
Status : Under award
3. Floating crane at Sagar
Rs. 78 Cr.
Status : DPR
4. Procurement of 3rd RMQC at HDC
Status : 53 Cr.
Status : Ongoing
5. 300 Bedded Super Specialty Hospital at KDS
Rs. 202 Cr.
Status : Tender floated
6. Extended gate at Balagarh
Rs. 400 Cr.
Status : DPR
7. Augmentation of Fire Fighting system at HDC
Rs. 107.48 Cr.
Status : Ongoing
8. Refurbishment of Heritage Head Office Building at KDS
Rs. 40.32 Cr.
Status : Ongoing
The Port is also focused on developing an integrated ecosystem for transit of cargo to north east via Indo-Bangla protocol route as a lucrative alternative to the chicken neck for connecting North East to have cost and time advantage. Under the PM’s Gatishakti policy, the Hon’ble Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Minister of Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, has also been focused on providing an integrated connectivity ecosystem to create a competitive and sustainable logistics supply chain to North Eastern states. Under the leadership of Shri Sonowal, Pandu in Assam, on last Sunday hosted the delivery of first consignment of foodgrains from Patna which was flagged off by the Hon’ble MoPSW in the first week of February 2022. The Pot is playing an active role in connecting inland waterways NW1 and NW2 to the energy of cargo transit through the combined power of sea and river. Last month, the first inland waterway Tata steel cargo movement from Haldia to Pandu Port was also flagged off by Shri Sonowal. The port continues to focus on development of smart infrastructure to harness the trade potential of the North Eastern region and enhance the economic prosperity by connecting the river to sea via NW1, NW2 and Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route.
Shri Vinit Kumar, IRSEE, Chairman of SMP has been stressing on increasing the capacity of the port to provide end to end seamless delivery of goods. “SMP has introduced the RAPID system (Realtime Augmented Paperless Integrated Delivery System) not only to provide better services to the trade in the region but also undertaken major projects to augment handling of domestic and international cargo in the port, ” Shri Kumar added. The major projects under Gati Shakti involve the construction of liquid cargo handling jetty on the Hooghly river to handle liquid cargo like edible oil viz. vegetable oil, soya oil, etc. and paraxylene and other chemicals in addition to butadiene, benezene, acetone, phenol, methanol etc. at a cost of approx Rs. 75 crores.
The port recently awarded a letter of agreement for the mechanization of berth no. 3 at Haldia Dock Complex at a cost of approx. of Rs. 300 crores. Haldia Dock system has also initiated construction of 1.5 lakh square metres hardstand with concrete paver bocks including drainage facilities within dock interior zone to increase storage area in the port. SMP has also initiated procurement of a Rail Mounted Quay Crane of 40T to increase the cargo handling capacity for the ease of port users.
In a bid to provide a better service to the trade in the region, Shri Kumar also held a trade meet recently on February 28, 2022 to engage and interact with investors and exporters/ importers to discuss solutions to the concerns highlighted by the trading community in Assam. With extreme potential in cargo movement (including stone chips, fly ash, cement, limestone, coal etc.), the Port also plans to develop an effective delivery and organizational system, connecting not only Pandu, Silchar and Karimganj in Assam, but also Tripura and Mizoram in NER via Chattogram in addition to development of cargo connectivity to Barak valley all the way to Sittwe in Myanmar. Thus, creating, an effective supply chain linking the North Eastern states with BBIN and other countries on the eastern water grid like Myanmar. Hon’ble Minister, Shri Sonowal, has repeatedly stressed on the importance of the old relationship of the Kolkata port and North-East and focused on developing a robust ecosystem for sustainable and cost-effective trade transit system. The Minister has also shared earlier the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat by optimal utilization of NW1 and NW to encourage movement of new types of cargo as well as infrastructure development under Gatishakti plan for multimodal connectivity and asset monetization.