Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata is planning to increase the total cargo handling capacity of Haldia Dock Complex by around 50 per cent in the next five years.

The proposed capacity augmentation and mechanisation will be through public-private partnership (PPP) projects with the total outlay of around ₹2000 crore.

“At Haldia Dock Complex, the mechanisation process is on. It is currently handling around 50 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo. Our goal is to increase the capacity to around 75 MTT by 2030,” SMP Kolkata Deputy Chairperson, Samrat Rahi told businessline.

Marking its highest cargo volume ever since its inception, Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) handled 49.54 MMT in the last financial year.

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, formerly known as the Kolkata Port Trust, comprises two dock systems– Kolkata Dock System (KDS) and Haldia Dock Complex (HDC).

“At HDC one berth has been awarded on PPP basis and remaining berth are under process to be awarded on PPP basis,” Rahi said. Notably, a consortium of Ripley & Co and Bothra Shipping has emerged as the highest bidder in a tender to operate the berth at HDC on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis for 30 years. The consortium is planning to invest around ₹600 crore in the automation and modernization of the port berth.

Exploring project

“Apart from the main dock at Haldia, we are also exploring project at Shalukkhali to increase the liquid cargo handling capacity. This is a greenfield project. We are trying to increase liquid cargo handling capacity in order to make Haldia a chemical hub,” Rahi said.

For works at berth Nos 7 and 8 at Netaji Subhash Dock of KDS, tender process is ongoing. “For KDS, we are developing an outer terminal, which will be less affected by the tide. For this project, we have sent a proposal under PPP to the Ministry. Berth Nos 2,3,4 and 5 will be brownfield expansion. Outer terminal will be the greenfield terminal. This is the first time it is happening,” Rahi said, adding after completion of these projects the container capacity at Kolkata Dock System will go up to around 1 million TEUs from the current 0.65 million TEUs.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways earlier this year approved re-construction of berth No. 8 and mechanization of berth Nos. 7 and 8 at the Netaji Subhash Dock. The approved project will be executed on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) basis through public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The estimated project cost stands at ₹809.18 crore.

Notably, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has secured a five-year Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contract for the container facility at the Netaji Subhash Dock in Kolkata.

KDS managed 16.856 MMT of cargo in the last financial year compared to 17.052 MMT in 2022-23.

In its 154-year history, SMP Kolkata achieved a milestone in 2023-24 by handling 66.4 MMT of cargo, marking a 1.11 per cent increase from the previous record of 65.66 MMT moved in 2022-23. In the current financial year, the port is aiming to touch around 65-66 MMT of cargo