PM launches port, inland waterways projects to boost riverine logistics in West Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated, laid the foundation stone of and flagged off various development projects worth more than Rs 830 crore at Singur in Hooghly district, West Bengal on Sunday. 

In a major push to strengthen river-based logistics and promote sustainable inland water transport, projects worth Rs 552 crore were launched under the ports and inland waterways sector, marking a significant step toward decongesting traditional cargo routes and expanding multimodal connectivity.

A key highlight was the inauguration of the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh, developed by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (SMPA). Located about 45 nautical miles upstream from Kolkata, the facility is aimed at easing congestion at the Kolkata Dock System while enabling efficient movement of cargo through inland waterways.

The Balagarh facility includes a modern barge terminal with two berths capable of handling containerised and coal cargo, with a projected capacity of 2.7 million tonnes per annum. The terminal is seamlessly integrated with National Waterway-1 (Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly) and is supported by road and rail connectivity, strengthening multimodal logistics across the eastern region.

Supporting infrastructure at the site includes a newly constructed road overbridge and advanced dredging facilities, enabling uninterrupted year-round navigation and improved turnaround time for cargo vessels.

As part of the clean transport initiative, the Prime Minister also launched a 50-passenger hybrid electric aluminium catamaran, marking a major milestone in the transition toward green inland water transport. Developed at a cost of Rs 12 crore, the vessel is powered by advanced lithium-titanate battery technology, offering an energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable option for passenger movement on inland waterways in Kolkata.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister observed that Bengal has immense potential for waterways and the Union Government is working on this as well. He noted that assistance is being provided to build the necessary infrastructure for port-led development. He stated that the new projects are the pillars on which West Bengal can be developed into a major hub of manufacturing, trade, and logistics. 

Speaking about the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for revival and rejuvenation of inland waterways, Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), said, “For decades, India’s inland waterways remained largely untapped despite their immense potential. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this sector has been comprehensively transformed into a modern, efficient and economical mode of transportation. Today, inland waterways are emerging as a vital pillar of India’s multimodal logistics network, reducing congestion on roads and railways, lowering logistics costs and driving sustainable growth across the country.”

 “West Bengal has always been the gateway to India’s maritime trade, and under PM Modiji’s leadership, the state is once again emerging as a growth engine for eastern India. With strengthened ports, inland waterways and rail connectivity, Bengal is becoming a vital link between the rest of the country and the Northeast, reinforcing the Prime Minister’s vision of making eastern India the centre of India’s next development journey,” he added.

The initiatives are aligned with the government’s broader vision of leveraging inland waterways as a cost-effective, environment-friendly and reliable mode of transport, while enhancing port-led development and reducing pressure on road and rail networks.

Strengthening rail connectivity, the Prime Minister inaugurated railway infrastructure projects worth Rs 280 crore. Key initiatives included the commissioning of the 15-km Jayrambati-Barogopinathpur-Maynapur rail section, part of the 83-km Tarakeswar-Bishnupur rail project, expected to spur socio-economic development in Bankura district. 

These projects reflect the Modi government’s integrated and future-oriented approach to infrastructure development, combining sustainable inland water transport with modern rail connectivity. Together, they are expected to reduce logistics costs, ease congestion, improve passenger mobility and reinforce West Bengal’s role as a vital gateway for trade and connectivity between India’s mainland and the North-Eastern region, emphasised an official release.

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