Over the next two years, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP) plans to invest Rs 1,700 crore in expanding capacity, modernising infrastructure, monetising assets, digitising operations, and modernising and developing infrastructure. The initiatives, which are part of the National Gati Shakti strategy, would aid in the development of modern infrastructure as well as a competitive logistics supply chain. According to SMP Chairman Vinit Kumar, 700 crore worth of projects have been completed in the last two years, with 1,700 crore worth of projects in various phases of implementation. The port is working hard to push project timeframes forward in order to reduce overall logistical costs.
Among the upcoming projects, the extended gate of Kolkata Port will be built at Balagarh, about 80 km from Kolkata. The ₹370-crore project, which is set to have four-to-six berths, will initially commence with two berths in the next two years.
“We plan to invest roughly 100 crore in the project and are demanding another 100 crore from the government.” “For the remaining investment (of roughly 170 crore), we’re seeking for a private operator,” he said. Within the following six months, SMP plans to issue a tender, inviting private parties to invest and operate the project.
The Kolkata port authorities recently presented APSEZ with a letter of award for the mechanisation and upgrade of a berth in the Haldia Dock Complex, which is expected to cost over 300 crore.
Following the successful handover of berth 2 to the Adani Group for the installation of rapid loading technologies, SMP was looking to modernise further berths at Haldia under the PPP model.
