SMPK to develop Balagarh terminal to shift cargo from KDS, easing city congestion and boosting trade.
In a major infrastructure boost, the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (SMPK) has received government approval to develop a key barge terminal at Balagarh island, 85 km upstream from Kolkata. The ₹538.20 crore project aims to ease traffic congestion on Kolkata’s roads by shifting a portion of cargo from the Kolkata Dock System (KDS).
Designed to handle 2.7 million tonnes annually, including 150,000 TEUs and dry bulk like coal, pulses, and fertilisers, the terminal will tap into National Waterway 1 (NW1), linking Haldia to Allahabad. With a 3-metre draft, it will accommodate flat-bottomed barges up to 3,000 dwt.
SMPK will develop core infrastructure through EPC mode, while the terminal’s two-phase construction will attract ₹407.20 crore of private investment under a PPP model. Part of the funding will come from the Jal Marg Vikas Project of IWAI. Tenders are expected to be floated in May.
The 100-acre terminal will serve as an extended gateway for KDS, offering an additional 300 acres of storage and helping industries across North Bengal, East Bihar, Nepal, and the northeast with faster, cost-effective logistics.
Environmental clearances have been secured, and the tender will be awarded based on the highest aggregate royalty per tonne handled.
Source: ET Infra
