Sleeker, Faster Shipping: Haldia's New ₹343-Crore Project

The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK) has awarded a ₹343.58 crore public-private partnership (PPP) project to Ganges Bulk Terminal Pvt. Ltd. (GBTPL) for the mechanisation of Berth No. 5 at the Haldia Dock Complex.

Executed on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model, the project aims to significantly enhance cargo handling efficiency, enabling the berth to handle up to 5 million metric tonnes of dry bulk cargo annually. Completion is scheduled for December 2027.

GBTPL will invest ₹343.58 crore, supported by ₹22.30 crore from the government through internal and extra budgetary resources. SMPK Chairman Rathendra Raman stated that the project will strengthen operational performance and reinforce eastern India’s strategic role in maritime trade.

The mechanisation is expected to reduce vessel turnaround time, increase cargo throughput, and deliver long-term economic benefits to the regional port ecosystem — supporting India’s expanding logistics and trade infrastructure.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.