West Bengal maritime plan advances INR19,209-crore pipeline

Ports inland waterways and logistics hubs form core of eastern India expansion push.

A proposed INR19,209-crore maritime investment pipeline aimed at expanding ports, inland waterways, and logistics infrastructure in West Bengal in eastern India is under review.

This follows a meeting between Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata.

The plan, set under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, targets the development of ports, shipbuilding facilities, logistics hubs, and river transport systems across the state.

The projects are expected to generate more than 62,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities by 2031.

The investment programme includes the Balagarh Multimodal Logistics Hub, expansion and mechanisation of Kolkata and Haldia docks, strengthening of inland waterways, shipbuilding and ship repair facilities, cruise tourism infrastructure, riverfront redevelopment, and port-led industrial clusters.

Sonowal said the programme aims to attract private capital and expand maritime and logistics activity in the state.

“West Bengal is central to India’s maritime future … we aim to transform Bengal maritime hubs Kolkata and Haldia into the premier maritime gateway of eastern India,” he said.

The meeting included discussions on Sagarmala 2.0, a proposed tunnel across the Hooghly River, development of jetty infrastructure, dredging of National Waterway-1, protection of the Hooghly embankment, and land and irrigation issues.

Adhikari said the state government and the Centre discussed coordination on maritime and connectivity projects and noted the importance of dredging, riverfront work, and transport infrastructure.

Cargo throughput at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port rose from 46.29 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2014 to 70.87 MMT in 2025–2026.

Inland waterways cargo movement increased nearly five-fold over the past decade, according to figures cited in the meeting.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said the investments will support logistics efficiency, reduce transport costs, and expand export-linked infrastructure in West Bengal and eastern India.