Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK) and JSW Infrastructure have signed a ₹700-crore concession agreement to mechanize Berths 7 and 8 at Netaji Subhas Dock (NSD) under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Awarded on a 30-year Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) basis, the project marks NSD’s transition into a PPP-operated terminal. JSW Infrastructure will reconstruct Berth 8 and equip both berths with rail-mounted quay cranes and advanced yard systems, creating a fully mechanized facility with an annual handling capacity of about 4.5 lakh TEUs.
The project is slated for completion within two years, though operations can begin in phases during construction. Officials said the modernization will reduce ship turnaround time, lower logistics costs, and boost connectivity across eastern India’s hinterland.
Industry experts called the development a major boost to Kolkata Port’s competitiveness, predicting greater mainline and feeder service calls. The initiative is among SMPK’s largest PPP projects in recent years and is expected to spur further private investment in upgrading India’s oldest riverine port.
