KOLKATA, June 4: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and discussed a proposed investment of Rs 19,209 crore aimed at transforming the state into eastern India’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding hub by 2031.
The nearly one-and-a-half-hour meeting was the first formal engagement between the Union ministry of ports, shipping and waterways and the West Bengal government since the BJP assumed power in the state in May.
According to a ministry statement, the proposed projects are expected to generate more than 62,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities while strengthening ports, inland waterways, shipbuilding, logistics and port-led industrialisation in the state.
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The investment roadmap, planned under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, includes development of the Balagarh Multimodal Logistics Hub, expansion and mechanisation of Kolkata and Haldia docks, strengthening of inland waterways, creation of shipbuilding and ship repair facilities, cruise tourism infrastructure, riverfront redevelopment and port-led industrial clusters.
The meeting came a day after Adhikari held talks with Adani Ports & SEZ Ltd MD Karan Adani, who is the son of Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani, at Nabanna and is seen as significant amid reduced engagement between the country’s largest private port operator and the previous TMC government in recent years.
During Thursday’s meeting between Sonowal and Adhikari, both leaders discussed future development of ports, inland waterways, shipbuilding, logistics and connectivity projects in the state.
“West Bengal is central to India’s maritime future. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with an investment pipeline of nearly Rs 19,209 crore, we aim to transform Bengal’s maritime hubs — Kolkata and Haldia — into the premier maritime gateway of eastern India while generating more than 62,500 employment opportunities,” Sonowal said.
The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways said the investment programme was designed to attract private capital, create large-scale employment and establish West Bengal as a preferred destination for maritime and logistics investments.
He said the proposed investments would strengthen logistics efficiency, reduce transportation costs, support exports and create an enabling ecosystem for industries dependent on maritime connectivity.
Adhikari welcomed continued collaboration between the Centre and the state on maritime infrastructure, waterways development, dredging, riverfront projects and connectivity initiatives, while seeking support for priority projects aimed at boosting economic activity and trade.
“We had a productive discussion on several priority maritime and connectivity projects, including Sagarmala 2.0, the proposed tunnel across the Hooghly River, development of jetty infrastructure, dredging of National Waterway-1, protection of the Hooghly embankment, and issues related to land and irrigation infrastructure,” the chief minister said.
He said the projects were important for strengthening the state’s maritime ecosystem and supporting economic growth, and expressed hope for continued cooperation with the Centre for the state’s development.
Highlighting the state’s growing maritime potential, Sonowal said cargo throughput at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port increased from 46.29 million metric tonnes in 2014 to 70.87 million metric tonnes in 2025-26, while inland waterways cargo movement grew nearly five-fold during the period. The ministry said the Centre was seeking to leverage West Bengal’s strategic location, extensive river network and industrial base to transform the state into a leading maritime investment destination and a growth engine for the country. (PTI)
