A Comprehensive Guide to Ports in West Bengal

West Bengal is a state in eastern India with a long coastline along the Bay of Bengal. It has several major ports that play a crucial role in the country's trade and commerce.

The state's ports are strategically located to facilitate trade with neighboring countries, particularly Bangladesh. The ports are also a major source of employment and revenue for the state.

The Port of Kolkata is one of the oldest and busiest ports in India, handling a significant volume of cargo and passenger traffic. It is located on the Hooghly River and has a long history dating back to the 17th century.

The port is an important hub for the state's economy, accounting for a significant share of West Bengal's GDP.

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West Bengal has a rich history of ports that date back to the ancient times. The first port in West Bengal was established by the ancient Greeks in the 4th century BC, at the site of modern-day Chandraketugarh.

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The port city of Chandraketugarh was a major trading center during the ancient times, with trade links with the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Chinese. The city was an important center of commerce and culture.

The port of Kolkata was established by the British East India Company in 1690, and it quickly became a major hub for trade and commerce in the region.

During the early colonial period, the main purpose of the port administration under the company's naval office was to provide pilotage services to ocean-going vessels.

The Master Attendant regularly conducted river surveys to report on the navigability of the river, which was a crucial task given the port's lack of docking facilities.

In 1790, the first dock was built near Bankshall Ghat, marking a significant milestone in the development of the port.

Colonel Watson was granted a site on the southern boundary of the harbor to build a floating dock in 1781, but he was forced to abandon the project due to legal disputes.

Several plans were made to build floating docks in Kolkata and Diamond Harbour in the 1820s, but none of them materialized.

The disastrous cyclone of 1842 caused extensive damage to ships anchored in Kolkata harbour, bringing the issue of dock construction back into discussion.

The government actively worked to establish the Port Trust to bring more efficiency to the management of the Port of Kolkata, providing a solid base for the British Empire's trade in India.

During the British India period, Kolkata's port underwent significant development. The city's merchants demanded a port trust in 1863, but it was only after a devastating cyclone in 1864 that the colonial government took action.

The cyclone caused extensive damage to the port and the city, with estimated losses exceeding 99,000 rupees. The Hooghly River witnessed high tides of about 40 feet.

In response to the disaster, the British government formed a River Trust in 1866, but it soon failed. The Calcutta Port Act was passed in 1870, creating the offices of Calcutta Port Commissioners.

At that time, the Calcutta port had only four jetties and one wharf for unloading cargo, with a total capacity of 48,000 tons. By 1871-72, the number of jetties had increased to six, with a capacity to berth 143 ships and handle 222,000 tons of cargo.

The port's growth was driven by the increasing demand for jute products and other commodities. Tea exports from Assam and North Bengal also played a significant role in the port's development.

A wet dock was set up at Kidderpore in 1892, and a petroleum wharf was built at Budge Budge in 1896. The Khidirpur Dock II was completed in 1902.

The port continued to grow, with the import-export sector experiencing remarkable development before World War I. Coastal trade also developed significantly, particularly in the export of coal.

After India gained independence in 1947, the Port of Kolkata's facilities were revived through economic changes. The First Five Year Plan called for the acquisition of new vessels for the port.

The Haldia Dock project was initiated in the Third Five Year Plan to ease the pressure on the Port of Kolkata. This was done to manage the increasing traffic and cargo.

The Commissioners for the Port of Kolkata were responsible for the port until 1975. The Major Port Trusts Act of 1963 came into force in January 1975, leading to a change in management.

The Farakka Barrage was designed to divert water from the Ganges into the Hooghly River to remove silt from Kolkata harbor. This was done to reduce the need for regular mechanical dredging.

The Farakka Barrage is 2,304 meters long and began operations on 21 April 1975. However, it was found that the water flow diverted from the barrage was not sufficient to satisfactorily desilt the river.

The port was renamed to Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port on 12 January 2020 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was done to commemorate 150 years of operation of Kolkata Port at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

Haldia Port has modern facilities for handling various categories of cargo, mainly of bulk type, including coal, iron ore, and petroleum products. This makes it easier to transport these goods.

One of the advantages of Haldia Port is its deep-water amenities, which allow larger-sized vessels to be stationed there. This is a significant improvement over Kolkata Port, where draft limitations make it difficult for larger vessels to dock.

The deep-water amenities at Haldia Port enable it to handle larger vessels, which is a major plus for trade and commerce in the region.

Haldia Port has modern facilities necessary for handling various categories of cargo, mainly of bulk type, including coal, iron ore, and petroleum products.

Located nearly 50 kilometers away from Kolkata Port, Haldia Port acts as a supplementary deep-sea facility to the already existing Kolkata Port. This strategic positioning allows it to accommodate larger vessels that were unable to move through the Hooghly River.

Haldia Port has deep-water amenities, enabling larger-sized vessels to be stationed there, which would not be possible with Kolkata Port due to draft limitations.

The Haldia Dock Complex Railway (HDC Railway) was established to cater to the traffic demand for warehouses and sidings of Haldia Dock Complex, with a track length of 115 kilometers and an annual freight capacity of 30 million metric tonnes.

The HDC Railway is operated by 12 locomotives under the Railways, and has a fully electrified single line corridor at Gaurich with South Eastern Railway near Durgachak Town railway station of Panshkura-Haldia broad gauge railway section.

The Channel Navigation System is a crucial component of the Port Infrastructure, ensuring safe and efficient passage for vessels through the Hooghly River. This system consists of a network of navigational aids, including Automatic Tide Gauges, River Marks and Buoys, and Lighthouses.

A total of 500 River Marks and Buoys are maintained by the KoPT, with 140 of them being lighted. These buoys are extremely useful in facilitating night navigation, pilotage, and dredging. They're operated by grid electricity, battery, or dissolved Marine Acetylene Gas.

The Hooghly River has one of the longest navigational channels in the world, stretching from Sandheads to Kolkata. This channel is marked by a series of lighted buoys and River Marks, making it easier for vessels to navigate.

There are two Lighthouses located on the Hooghly River: Sagar Lighthouse and Dariapur Lighthouse. Sagar Lighthouse is situated on Sagar Island and is visible from a distance of 28 kilometers in clear weather. Dariapur Lighthouse is situated on the right bank of the Hooghly River and is visible from a distance of 35 kilometers in clear weather.

Here's a list of the unmanned light vessels located south of the Sagar lighthouse:

These unmanned light vessels help vessels navigate the channel safely from the sandheads to the Sagar.

The ports in West Bengal are crucial components of India's maritime infrastructure, establishing a vital link between India and various global destinations.

Kolkata Port deals with a variety of types of cargo including containers, dry bulk, liquid bulk, and break bulk cargo. Such flexibility in concentration to different types of commodities has established Kolkata Port as a center in the trade of jute, tea, coal, iron ore, and petroleum products.

The port network of West Bengal is of strategic importance for commerce and trade in eastern India, serving as the main artery for import and export of the regional hinterland. The industrial and agricultural hinterlands in the vicinity of these ports increase their significance in maintaining the open and effective trading routes.

The Kolkata Port Trust manages two separate dock agglomerations, the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) and the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC). These two dock systems are located on the banks of the Hooghly River, giving the port the distinction of being India's only riverine major port.

The Kolkata Dock System is situated on the left bank of the Hooghly River at about 203km upstream from the sea. The pilotage station is at Gasper/ Saugor roads, 145 Kilometres to the south of the KDS.

Khidirpur Dock (KPD) has the lowest water depth among the docks and moorings in the Kolkata Dock System. Budge Budge River Mooring has the highest water depth.

Vessels to enter Khidirpur Dock and Netaji Subhash Dock first wait for tides at the anchorage at Nazirganj Flats, north of Garden Reach. This anchorage can accommodate up to 5 ships at a time.

The ships waiting at the anchorage enter Khidirpur Dock and Netaji Subhash Dock through lock-gates when the water level of the river reaches the level of the Kolkata Dock System due to tidal action.

Kolkata Port deals with a variety of types of cargo including containers, dry bulk, liquid bulk, and break bulk cargo. This flexibility has established Kolkata Port as a center in the trade of jute, tea, coal, iron ore, and petroleum products.

The port remains competitive by making constant improvements in its infrastructures, and modernizing the port activities with the use of sophisticated technology.

Cargo handling at Kolkata Port is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. The port has a total of 500 River Marks and Buoys, of which 140 are lighted, maintained by the KoPT. These are extremely useful in facilitating night navigation, pilotage, and dredging.

A total of 80 major riverine jetties, and many minor jetties, and a large number of ship breaking berths are available in the Kolkata dock system. The system consists of Khidirpur Dock (KPD), Netaji Subhash Dock (NSD), Budge Budge River Mooring (BB), Diamond Harbor Anchorage, Sagar Anchorage, and Sandheads Anchorage.

Vessels entering Khidirpur Dock (KPD) and Netaji Subhash Dock (NSD) first wait for tides at the anchorage at Nazirganj Flats, north of Garden Reach. Five ships can be anchored together in this anchorage.

The Kolkata Port Trust has introduced the Electronic Position Fixing System "Syledis" for position fixing of the vessels plying in the wide estuary of the Hooghly river. The system was replaced by Differential GPS (Differential Global Position Fixing System) which provides improved location accuracy of up to 10cm.

Pilotage is compulsory for all ships of 200 GRT and more when navigating upstream of 21°39'02.93" N latitude. A pilot vessel/station is maintained at Sagar Road, and the river pilot takes over the ship from Middleton Point in the channel and proceeds up the river.

Kolkata Port Trust is set to sign a joint venture for a new port, which is a significant development in the country's maritime history. Kolkata Port is one of the functioning ports in this region since ancient days.

The port is located in the Longitudinal zone of the country, making it unique as it's situated far inland. This makes it one among a few large riverine ports across India.

The Hooghly River plays a crucial role in the trade activities of the country, and Kolkata Port has held a pivotal place in India's maritime history.

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The Kolkata Railway System plays a crucial role in port operations, connecting the city's docks and warehouses to the wider rail network.

KDS Railway, a terminal agent of Indian Railways, operates within the Kolkata docks system, catering to traffic needs for docks, warehouses, and private sidings.

It has a working Agreement with Eastern Railway, rendering services to users on their behalf.

KDS Railway's operation is now limited to the dock area, with a sole marshalling yard at East Dock Junction (EJC).

The total track length of KDS railway is about 18km.

It is connected with Eastern Railway through the Majerhat railway station.

The ports in West Bengal are strategically located to facilitate trade and commerce.

The Haldia port is one of the largest ports in India, handling a significant volume of cargo.

It's situated near the confluence of the Hooghly River and the Bay of Bengal, making it an ideal location for trade.

Haldia is a major port in West Bengal, India, located nearly 50 kilometers away from Kolkata Port.

It was constructed in the late 20th century to relieve traffic at Kolkata Port and accommodate larger vessels that were unable to move through the Hooghly River.

Haldia Port has a supplementary deep-sea facility to Kolkata Port, making it an essential part of the region's logistics.

The Haldia Dock Complex is situated at around 60 kilometers away from the pilotage station and has a maximum water depth of 12.5 meters, allowing ships up to 277 meters long to anchor.

It is connected to the deep sea by the Western Channel, with an average depth of 8.4 meters, making it possible for ships up to 230 meters long to dock.

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The complex consists of a dock, oil and barge jetty, and Haldia anchorage, with a total of 14 berths and 3 oil jetties.

The berths of the impounded dock include 6 dry bulk cargo berths, 3 liquid cargo berths, 3 multipurpose berths, and 2 dedicated container berths.

The Haldia Dock Complex Railway (HDC Railway) was established to cater to the traffic demand for warehouses and sidings of Haldia Dock Complex, with a track of 115 kilometers and 11.5 kilometers of sidings.

The HDC Railway has an annual freight capacity of 30 million metric tonnes and is connected by a fully electrified single line corridor at Gaurich with the South Eastern Railway.

The Budge Budge River is a significant location for cargo handling facilities, with the Budge Budge River Mooring being one of the earliest built on the Hooghly River.

It's still in operation today, with 6 oil (petroleum) Wharves that can accommodate vessels of varying sizes.

The Wharves are identified by numbers, ranging from 1 to 8, except for numbers 4 and 6.

The water depth at the Wharves is uneven, with a maximum of 13.3m (44ft) at berth No. 1 and a minimum of 7.9m (26ft) at berth No. 8.

The maximum size of vessel that can be accommodated is 620 feet (190m) in length at the No. 1 and No. 8 Wharves.

The varying water depths at the Wharves require careful vessel navigation to ensure safe passage.

Budge Budge River Mooring can accommodate vessels of up to 620 feet in length at the No. 1 and No. 8 Wharves.

The ports in West Bengal play a vital role in the region's economy, supporting vast economic activities and strengthening India's connectivity with the global trading system.

The port network of West Bengal is of strategic importance for commerce and trade in eastern India, serving as the main artery for import and export of the regional hinterland.

The ports in West Bengal are essential for the transportation of various commodities, fostering international commerce, and creating job opportunities for tens of thousands of people, from dockers to heads of logistics.

Effective management of imports and exports through these ports ensures an uninterrupted supply of goods, contributing to the development of industries and boosting the overall economy of the country.

Port activity in West Bengal is a vital link in the supply chain of India, promoting trade on a global level and enhancing the country's economic growth.

The Indian economy highly relies on the regions of Kolkata and Haldia, which are among the major ports in West Bengal, supporting the country and helping it scale through various global markets.

In recent years, the major ports in West Bengal have faced powerful competition from countries like China and Europe, forcing them to invest in port development to stay competitive.

There is a potential for growth for the sea ports in West Bengal, with measures to enhance trade efficiency and increase their international cargo handling capacity, allowing them to meet international standards and play a significant role in global trade.

Kolkata Port is also known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Kali Mandir.

It's one of the functioning ports in this region since ancient days.

Located along the Hooghly River, this port has immense significance for trade activities.

The port is situated far inland, making it one among a few large riverine ports across India.

It holds a pivotal place in India's maritime history.

Kolkata Port is recognized to be one of the functioning ports in this region since the ancient days.

Haldia Port is a major port in West Bengal, located nearly 50 kilometers away from Kolkata Port in the upstream direction. It serves as a supplementary deep-sea facility to Kolkata Port.

The port was constructed in the late 20th century to relieve traffic at Kolkata Port and accommodate larger vessels that were unable to move through the Hooghly River. This was a strategic move to increase the region's shipping capacity and efficiency.

Haldia Port is connected to the deep sea by the Western Channel, with an average depth of 8.4 meters (28ft), allowing ships up to 230 meters (750ft) long to anchor. The port's maximum water depth is 12.5 meters (41ft).

The Haldia Dock Complex, a subsidiary port system of the Kolkata Dock System, is situated at around 60 kilometers away from the pilotage station. It has a total of 14 berths and 3 oil jetties.

The complex consists of a dock, oil and barge jetty, and Haldia anchorage. Berths are inside docks with lock-gate, and jetties are located on the Hooghly River.

The Adani Group has secured a major port project in West Bengal, with a planned investment of over $3 billion.

This project will be a greenfield development, with a total investment of ₹25,000 crore, of which ₹15,000 crore will go toward port development and the rest toward building related infrastructure.

The new port, located in Tajpur, is about 105 miles from the state capital of Kolkata.

The state government expects the project to create 25,000 direct jobs and over 100,000 indirect jobs.

Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd., controlled by Gautam Adani, will develop the port, adding to their existing 30% domestic market share.

This win adds to Adani's growing portfolio, which includes the Haifa port project in Israel and a port terminal in Sri Lanka.

Kidderpore and Netaji Subhas are two of the most important docks in West Bengal. Netaji Subhas Dock (NSD) has a total of 10 berths, including 1 heavy lift berth, 4 dedicated container berths, 1 liquid cargo berth and 4 multipurpose berths.

The dock's berths have uneven water depths, with a minimum of 7.1 meters at berth No. 1 and a maximum of 9 meters at berth No. 3. Berth No. 1 is the shallowest, while berth No. 3 is the deepest.

Container ships are mainly handled through the Netaji Subhas Dock, and most of the containers of the Port of Kolkata are transported through it.

Kidderpore (KPD) is a significant dockyard with 18 berths, including 17 multipurpose berths and 1 berth for passenger ships including cargo.

The berths are identified by numbers, ranging from 1 to 29, and have uneven water depth, with a minimum of 7.4 meters at berth No. 29 and a maximum of 9.2 meters at berth No. 8.

Kidderpore Dock is divided into two parts: KDP-1 (West) and KDP-2 (East), with 10 and 8 berths respectively, separated by a bascule bridge.

The dock's quays have a combined length of 2,956 meters, of which KDP-1 (West) is 1,728 meters and KDP-2 (East) is 1,228 meters.

A lock gate connects the dock to the shipping channel – Hooghly River, with a lock barrel 176.8 meters long and 24.4 meters wide.

The lock gate has a depth of about 2.9 meters to 3 meters in front of it, allowing vessels with a maximum length of 157 meters and a maximum width of 21.35 meters to enter the dock.

Buoys/moorings provide support to the movement of ships within the docks, and the dock has several bends, making night navigation impossible, so ships operate only during the day.

Netaji Subhas Dock is a major hub for container ships, handling most of the containers transported through the Port of Kolkata.

The dock has 10 berths, including 1 heavy lift berth, 4 dedicated container berths, 1 liquid cargo berth, and 4 multipurpose berths.

Two buoys/moorings within the dock provide support to the movement of ships.

Berths have uneven water depths, with a minimum of 7.1 meters at berth No. 1 and a maximum of 9 meters at berth No. 3.

The dock is connected to the shipping channel – Hooghly River, through a lock gate.

The container terminal at the dock has 5 berths – No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 7, and No. 8 berth.

Berth No. 4 is the shortest in the terminal, measuring 181 meters long.

Berth No. 8 is the longest, measuring 225 meters long and capable of handling ships up to 507ft long.

Calcutta is the former name of Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal. It was a major city in British India.

The city's name was officially changed to Kolkata in 2001.

Calcutta was a hub for trade and commerce, with the Hooghly River providing a vital transportation link.

The city's rich history dates back to the 17th century when it was a Dutch trading post.

Today, Kolkata is a bustling metropolis with a population of over 14 million people.

The Kolkata dock system is connected to roads under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, but major congestion and traffic jams are a common sight on the narrow roads.

The roads surrounding the dock area, such as Diamond Harbor Road, Taratala Road, and Garden Reach Road, are 4-lane and have been upgraded, but they're often congested due to the mix of local and cargo traffic.

Haldia Dock Complex is directly connected to National Highway 116, which links up with National Highway 16, a crucial part of the Golden Quadrilateral at Kolaghat.

The National Highway 16 connects Haldia Dock Complex to other states, including Odisha and Jharkhand, making it an important transportation hub.