Kolkata, June 3 (IANS) With the new government in place in West Bengal, it will be smooth sailing for all development projects, including the port project at Balagarh in the Hooghly district, officials in the shipping ministry said.

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (SMPA) of Kolkata, the only major riverine port in the country, is developing dedicated container and coal berths at Balagarh to accommodate anticipated growth in traffic and reduce intra-city cargo movement.

The foundation stone for this project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January this year.

This facility will also promote cargo transportation through National Waterway-1, thereby strengthening inland waterway connectivity and enhancing overall logistics efficiency.

An official said that land is already available with the SMPA and that environmental clearance was received on 24 January 2025. Under the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) component of the project, the tender for road construction was opened on 2 February 2026, and the work order for the construction of the Road Over Bridge (ROB) was issued on 9 January 2026.

He added that officials were initially apprehensive about hurdles during the commissioning process but are now assured of full support from the state administration.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 539.17 crore. This includes the EPC component of Rs 131.97 crore and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) component of Rs 407.20 crore.

The EPC component is to be funded by the Inland Waterways Authority of India, while the PPP component is to be financed and implemented by the selected concessionaire.

Plans reveal that the EPC part of the project, except for the dredging, is scheduled for completion by 31 March 2028. Dredging operations will be undertaken by the IWAI immediately prior to the commencement of construction of the jetties by the PPP operators.

Construction of facilities under the PPP component is to be completed within 3 years of the concession award.

According to SMPA, the proposed cargo handling capacity under the project is 2.7 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA).

The project is expected to deliver trade benefits by reducing congestion caused by cargo movement within city areas, lowering logistics costs, and facilitating the development of an alternative trade hub.

The official further said the project is expected to generate around 2,600 employment opportunities through both direct and indirect avenues.

This will also create significant employment opportunities for the local population, thereby contributing to regional socio-economic development.

–IANS

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