SMP Kolkata: Twin docks gear up to handle more cargo

SMP- K (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata) is planning to expand its cargo handling capacity and its mechanism efforts and to do it, it’s looking at assigning two to three projects to the public-private partnership (PPP).

Already around three PPP projects are in various stages of work: Facilities at Shalukkhali to increase the liquid cargo handling capacity of the Haldia dock complex (HDC); rejuvenation of Khidderpore to enhance the containerised traffic of Kolkata dock system (KDS), and mechanisation of berth two at HDC for handling dry bulk cargo. The budget for all these projects is estimated to be Rs.700 crore.

Initially, the SPM port had a cargo handling capacity of 87.35 million tonnes (MT) with its two dock systems, KDS and HDC. Now plans are to increase the capacity with an addition of 30 MT in the next few years using 12 PPP projects. Most of the projects are already awarded while the pending will be awarded by the end of this financial year. As per the updates, the estimated budget for the 12 projects altogether is Rs 5214 crore. It is worthwhile to know that projects with an estimated cost of Rs. 620 crore are already completed including the liquid cargo handling jetty at HDC, a second railway line from Durgachak to HDC and a rail overbridge at Ranichak at HDC.