A nearly six-decade-old movable bridge inside the Kolkata Dock System is set for a major overhaul, with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port committing ₹117.54 crore to modernise the critical crossing that links Garden Reach and Metiabruz with central Kolkata. The intervention is expected to improve cargo handling efficiency while easing disruptions for road commuters who rely on the same structure. The steel bascule bridge, operational since 1966, is a rare example of a double-leaf rolling lift system in eastern India’s port network. Weighing around 1,640 tonnes, it pivots open to allow vessels to move between dock basins and closes to carry trucks and daily vehicular traffic. Its dual function has long made it indispensable to port logistics and the wider city economy.
Port officials say the renovation will replace ageing electro-mechanical components, including hydraulic drive systems and rack-and-pinion assemblies that control the lifting span. Structural strengthening measures are also planned to ensure the bridge can safely handle modern freight loads. The Kolkata bascule bridge upgrade aims to extend the asset’s lifespan while reducing unplanned shutdowns that can stall ship movements and road traffic alike. The project will be executed under an agreement with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, the public sector infrastructure company tasked with oversight. Following competitive bidding, a Mumbai-based engineering contractor secured the works order in late 2025. Financial support of ₹40 crore has been committed by the Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways under the national port-led development programme Sagarmala Scheme.
Urban infrastructure analysts note that such investments are increasingly vital as Indian ports face pressure to cut turnaround times and lower logistics costs. For Kolkata, where riverine navigation and dense urban settlements intersect, reliability of shared infrastructure carries economic and social implications. Delays in dock operations ripple through supply chains, affecting exporters, transport operators and small enterprises that depend on steady cargo flows. Beyond commercial gains, planners argue that modernising legacy infrastructure rather than replacing it outright aligns with resource-efficient development. Strengthening existing steel structures reduces material demand and embodied carbon compared to full reconstruction.
It also minimises prolonged disruption in neighbourhoods already grappling with traffic congestion and industrial activity. The Kolkata bascule bridge upgrade is scheduled for completion by May 2027. Once operational, authorities expect smoother vessel passages, fewer mechanical breakdowns and improved road connectivity across the dock precinct. As eastern India positions itself as a trade gateway to neighbouring markets, the resilience of such hybrid maritime-urban assets will shape how effectively the region balances economic growth with sustainable urban management.
