Around 85% of the cargo operations at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port (SMP) or Kolkata port will be handled mechanically by 2030 and around Rs 250 crore of capital investment will be required to go for the mechanisation, said Kolkata port chairman Rathendra Raman while addressing a conference organised by BNCCI.
“Our target is to identify problems and weaknesses and take measures to bring the cargo traffic back to Kolkata. We have recently lost a lot cargo traffic to Vizag port and now, we will work to bring down the cost,” said Raman. Entry of large vessels into Haldia dock complex is a matter of concern.
“We would ensure the availability of floating cranes if the cargo volume exceeds five million tonne. A number of projects are lined up and if there is a higher demand especially from southeast Asia, then Kolkata port can again be the first point of contact when it comes to ports,” he added, while speaking on the prospects to improve the port system.
According to him, India-Bangladesh protocol can possibly do away with railway transport between the countries and trials are on.
BNCCI president Debashish Dutta said: “Smooth exports to our neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh is not just a matter of business but also a matter of international relations. Development of port and warehouses requires the support of all stakeholders.”