Kolkata, June 4: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal met West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata on Thursday to discuss a comprehensive maritime development roadmap aimed at transforming West Bengal into Eastern India’s leading maritime and logistics hub.
The Centre has proposed investments worth ₹19,209 crore by 2031 under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, with projects expected to generate over 62,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities across the state.
During the meeting, the leaders reviewed plans related to port modernization, inland waterways, shipbuilding, logistics infrastructure, and port-led industrial development. Key projects include the Balagarh Multimodal Logistics Hub, expansion and mechanisation of Kolkata and Haldia docks, development of shipbuilding and ship repair facilities, strengthening inland waterways, cruise tourism infrastructure, riverfront redevelopment, and creation of port-based industrial clusters.
Addressing the media, Sonowal said the investment programme is designed to attract private sector participation, boost employment, and position West Bengal as a preferred destination for maritime and logistics investments.
He noted that West Bengal occupies a strategic position in India’s maritime growth plans and said the proposed investments would help transform Kolkata and Haldia into major gateways for trade and commerce in eastern India.
Adhikari welcomed continued cooperation between the Centre and the state on maritime infrastructure and connectivity projects. He highlighted several priority initiatives, including Sagarmala 2.0, the proposed Hooghly River tunnel, development of jetty infrastructure, dredging of National Waterway-1, embankment protection works along the Hooghly, and improvements in land and irrigation infrastructure.
According to Sonowal, West Bengal’s maritime sector has already witnessed significant growth over the past decade. Cargo handling at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port has increased from 46.29 million metric tonnes in 2014 to 70.87 million metric tonnes in 2025-26, while cargo movement through inland waterways has expanded nearly five-fold during the same period.
The minister said the planned investments would improve logistics efficiency, lower transportation costs, strengthen export competitiveness, and support industries dependent on maritime connectivity. He added that integrated development of ports, waterways, logistics parks, and maritime manufacturing facilities would accelerate economic growth in West Bengal as well as the wider eastern and northeastern regions of the country.
