PM Modi launches fully automated bulk terminal at Haldia Port
The terminal can handle 4 million tonnes of cargo annually, built under a 30-year design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) concession.
Source: X (Adaniports)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially commissioned the Haldia Bulk Terminal (HBT) on 14 March. The fully automated facility was developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port’s Haldia Dock Complex.
According to the press release, this terminal represents a major step forward in the modernisation of India's logistics sector, and is designed to handle 4 million tonnes of cargo annually (MMTPA).
Built under a 30-year concession via the design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) model, the project moved rapidly from its construction start date in July 2023 to its current operational status. The facility is specifically engineered to streamline the handling of dry bulk commodities, primarily imported coal.
The terminal boasts comprehensive technical specifications, including a 1.54-km dedicated rail line for direct rail evacuation, connecting the port directly to the national grid. Precision loading is facilitated by a 2,000-tonne railway wagon loading system (RWLS).
Furthermore, the terminal is equipped with advanced automation, featuring two stacker-cum-reclaimers and two mobile harbor cranes seamlessly integrated with high-speed conveyor systems.
Ashwani Gupta, CEO of APSEZ said, "The Haldia Bulk Terminal is a fully mechanised facility with direct rail evacuation on the Hooghly, setting a new efficiency benchmark on India's eastern seaboard. By eliminating jetty dumping and reducing cargo loss through automated systems, it enables cleaner, safer and more sustainable operations.”
“The terminal will strengthen industrial supply chains in West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand while supporting the Prime Minister's vision of lowering logistics costs through modern multimedia infrastructure," said Gupta added..
Currently, the east coast accounts for approximately 60% of India’s dry bulk imports, including essential materials like limestone, bauxite, and coal.
By enabling direct ship-to-train cargo evacuation, the HBT reduces port dwell time. The release further said that this efficiency is expected to lower overhead costs for key sectors, including steel, aluminum, and power production, which rely heavily on the Haldia gateway.