West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said the state government is considering setting up a shipping wing separate from the transport ministry and exploring development of small ports on the Gujarat and Odisha routes.
Read also | West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari inaugurates BJP office in Bhabanipur
Shipping and ports development plans
In a press conference after the meeting, Adhikari said that the state is keen to strengthen maritime infrastructure and inland water transport and is studying structural reforms to strengthen this sector.
“Currently, the transport and shipping departments are working together in the state. We are thinking of setting up a separate shipping wing in the future. We are also examining the possibility of developing small ports on the lines of states like Gujarat and Odisha,” he said.
Announcing a major boost to water-based urban transport, Adhikari said Kolkata will become the 18th city in the country to be connected to the water metro network.
Kolkata to join the water metro network
“Kolkata will now be connected to the water metro system. The project has already been implemented in 17 locations across the country, including Kerala. Kolkata will be the 18th city to join the chain,” he said.
Read also | Suvendu Adhikari expands West Bengal govt, 35 more ministers take oath
Participation in the Sagarmala programme
West Bengal was not linked to the Sagarmala-I programme, and hence did not benefit from the benefits offered by the Centre’s flagship port-led development initiative, Adhikari said.
“The previous government did not actively participate in many key projects of the central government and, in the end, we lost the opportunity to be part of the Sagarmala 1 programme. However, yesterday the Prime Minister approved the Sagarmala 2 programme, and we decided to join it,” the Prime Minister said.
“We are preparing worthy project proposals $“Rs 22,700 crore for implementation over the next five years,” he said, adding that these projects will focus on coastal fishing infrastructure, island development and other marine initiatives.
Propulsion of Hooghly Tunnel, jetties and coastal infrastructure
During the review meeting on Wednesday, there was a discussion on the proposal to construct an underground tunnel through the Hooghly River for which SMPT and the shipping company had given the NOC, Adhikari said, adding that in addition, “44 new jetties are planned and we have received 41 NOCs today.”
Gangasagar Mela International Batch
Referring to the plans for the annual Gangasagar Mela, the Prime Minister said efforts are being made to raise the standard of pilgrimage to the international level.
“Beach restoration projects in Sagar Island have also been approved under the programme. We have started planning to promote Sagar Mela on an international scale and make it a globally recognized event,” he said.
“There are many proposals to develop Gangasagar Mela into an international event. The Center has agreed to support the coastal protection project near Kapil Muni Ashram and will also support the required dredging work,” he added.
He said there are proposals for a series of development initiatives focusing on the coastal areas and areas adjacent to the Sundarbans, including Sagar, Namkhana, Kakdwip, Khejuri, Sandeshkhali, Hingalganj, Gosaba, Basanti and Bakhali.
Adhikari also said that plans are being made to set up dedicated infrastructure facilities for coastal fishermen, with the aim of supporting their livelihoods and enhancing operational efficiency in the sector.
He stressed that the proposed projects would cover a wide range of sectors, including port connectivity, coastal transport, inland waterways, fisheries infrastructure and development of island areas.
Adhikari said the proposed investments also include development of Balagarh multimodal logistics hub, expansion and mechanization of Kolkata and Haldia piers, cruise tourism infrastructure, riverfront redevelopment projects and port-led industrial clusters.
The Prime Minister said that work on the road connectivity project for Balagarh Center has begun and measures are being taken to enhance protection of the river bank.
“The communication road for Ballagarh station has already been constructed. We have also decided to provide concrete protection on a 2.5 km stretch to prevent river erosion, while dredging will be carried out at a distance of approximately 45 km of the river channel,” he said.
Welcoming the ongoing cooperation between the Center and the state, the Prime Minister said, “These initiatives are important to enhance the marine ecosystem in West Bengal and support economic growth.”
Adhikari said several prominent ghats along the Hooghly River, including Bagbazar, Ahiritola, Shobhabazar, Malik Ghat, Babugat, Ramkrishnapur and Pali, will be renovated and beautified.
“Our aim is to complete the renovation and beautification work before Durga Puja. Special attention is being paid to preserving the places associated with Sri Ramakrishna and Maa Sarada,” he said.
The Prime Minister also said that the government is exploring rehabilitation options for low-income families living on land belonging to the Kolkata Port.
He said, “There is a proposal to build apartments within the framework of a central housing plan for the economically weaker families who live on the port lands. We are studying the methods.”
Adhikari added that contract officers or project managers would be appointed for the key projects discussed during the meeting and expressed confidence that tangible progress would be evident within three months.
He further said that discussions are on to set up a museum at Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port to showcase the history and heritage of old Kolkata.
