Kolkata has taken a strategic step towards boosting its port infrastructure, with JSW Infrastructure securing a Rs 740-crore public-private partnership project at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port. Awarded on 7 July, the concession involves mechanisation of berths 7 and 8 and reconstruction of berth 8 at Netaji Subhas Dock. The project has been granted on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis, with a 30-year concession period.
The project aims to significantly enhance the port’s cargo-handling capabilities and operational efficiency. As per officials, the construction phase will span two years, although JSW Infrastructure will be permitted to commence limited operations during this time. This dual-track approach will allow the company to capitalise on the port’s ongoing cargo movement while infrastructure upgrades are underway. Strategically located, the Kolkata Port serves as a vital gateway for trade in eastern India. The move to upgrade container infrastructure is aligned with the broader national port modernisation initiative, which encourages private participation to increase competitiveness and throughput efficiency. Experts noted that mechanisation will reduce turnaround time, emissions, and manual intervention, contributing to a more sustainable logistics chain.
JSW Infrastructure, which already operates a container terminal at New Mangalore Port on the west coast, is now poised to become a significant player in the eastern maritime sector. Its current capacity of 0.2 million TEUs is being expanded to 0.35 million TEUs. With the addition of the Kolkata project, the company’s total container handling capacity is set to touch nearly one million TEUs. Port sector analysts believe this development marks a critical moment for India’s cargo infrastructure as capacity augmentation at key ports such as Kolkata will help decongest inland freight corridors and reduce transit bottlenecks. As urban regions push toward low-emission and efficient freight systems, such investments are crucial to reducing the carbon intensity of logistics.
If executed on time and to specification, the project could establish a replicable model for PPP-led port upgrades in older, landlocked locations. This will not only improve port resilience but also enhance regional trade connectivity and employment generation, strengthening Kolkata’s role as an eastern gateway.
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