Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially commissioned the Haldia Bulk Terminal (HBT) on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in India’s maritime infrastructure.

Developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) at the Haldia Dock Complex of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, this state-of-the-art facility is recognized as India’s first fully automated dry bulk terminal on the Hooghly River.

Designed with an annual cargo handling capacity of 4 million metric tonnes (MMTPA), the terminal is a strategic upgrade for the eastern maritime corridor.

It is equipped with cutting-edge mechanization, including a 2,000-tonne Railway Wagon Loading System (RWLS), a 1.54-kilometer dedicated railway line for direct ship-to-train cargo evacuation, advanced conveyor systems, two stacker-cum-reclaimers for automated stockyard management, and two mobile harbour cranes.

The terminal’s automated systems are set to significantly enhance efficiency by eliminating jetty dumping and reducing cargo loss. Its direct rail connectivity is a consequential feature, enabling seamless cargo transfer from vessels directly to the national rail network.

This integration is expected to drastically reduce port dwell time and lower the delivered cost of raw materials—such as coal, bauxite, and limestone—for industries in West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand.

“The Haldia Bulk Terminal is a next-generation facility that brings full mechanisation and direct rail evacuation to the Hooghly, setting a new benchmark for efficiency on India's eastern seaboard,” said Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO, APSEZ.

“The terminal will play a pivotal role in strengthening industrial supply chains of West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand, while supporting the Prime Minister's vision of lowering logistics costs through modern multimodal infrastructure.”

Developed under a 30-year concession through the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model, the project was delivered within its scheduled construction window, which began on July 14, 2023.

The facility aligns with the national Sagarmala programme and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, reflecting the government's commitment to modernizing the eastern seaboard to foster industrial growth and economic development in the region.

Source: ANI