Kolkata: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday to discuss a proposed maritime investment pipeline of ₹19,209 crore aimed at transforming West Bengal into eastern India’s leading maritime and logistics hub by 2031. The investment plan, under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, is expected to generate over 62,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities. Key projects include the Balagarh Multimodal Logistics Hub, expansion and mechanisation of Kolkata and Haldia docks, inland waterways development, shipbuilding and repair facilities, cruise tourism infrastructure, riverfront redevelopment and port-led industrial clusters.
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Speaking after the meeting, Sonowal said the Centre aims to strengthen West Bengal’s position as a major gateway for trade, industry and tourism. He highlighted the state’s growing maritime potential, noting that cargo throughput at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port has increased from 46.29 million metric tonnes in 2014 to 70.87 million metric tonnes in 2025-26, while inland waterways cargo movement has grown nearly five-fold during the same period.
Adhikari welcomed continued cooperation with the Centre on projects related to Sagarmala 2.0, dredging of National Waterway-1, jetty infrastructure, the proposed Hooghly River tunnel and riverbank protection measures. The meeting, attended by Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur and senior officials from both governments, underscored the Centre’s vision of leveraging West Bengal’s strategic location and extensive river network to drive economic growth across eastern and northeastern India.
