PM Modi unveils ₹552 crore port project in West Bengal
The inland waterway initiatives will boost multimodal connectivity, cut logistics costs, and encourage green transport.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 18 inaugurated infrastructure projects worth ₹552 crore in West Bengal. The initiatives, spanning inland waterways, are aimed at enhancing multimodal connectivity, reducing logistics costs, and promoting green transport solutions.
According to the press release, the project highlights the government's push to modernise cargo movement and improve passenger travel through energy-efficient systems, promising to accelerate economic activity and employment in the region.
This initiative marks a pivotal step in decongesting traditional cargo routes and leveraging India's river systems for sustainable transport.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “For decades, India’s inland waterways remained largely untapped despite their immense potential. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this sector has been comprehensively transformed into a modern, efficient and economical mode of transportation. Today, inland waterways are emerging as a vital pillar of India’s multimodal logistics network.”
A major waterways initiative is the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh, developed by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (SMPA) 45 nautical miles upstream from Kolkata.
This facility, designed to reduce congestion at the Kolkata Dock System, includes a modern barge terminal with two berths capable of handling 2.7 million tonnes per annum of containerised and coal cargo, and is seamlessly integrated with National Waterway-1, as well as road and rail networks.
Furthermore, as part of a clean transport push, a 50-passenger hybrid electric aluminium catamaran, developed for ₹12 crore and powered by lithium-titanate battery technology, was launched for eco-friendly passenger movement on Kolkata's waterways.
