PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates India’s First Automated Dry Bulk Terminal on the Hooghly River

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Haldia Bulk Terminal, an advanced automated dry bulk cargo handling facility developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited at the Haldia Dock Complex of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata. The project represents a major step in strengthening maritime infrastructure along India’s eastern coast and is expected to significantly enhance cargo handling operations along the Hooghly River.

First fully automated dry bulk terminal on the Hooghly

The newly inaugurated facility has a cargo handling capacity of 4 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). It is considered the first fully automated terminal on the Hooghly River dedicated to handling dry bulk cargo. The terminal will mainly process coal along with other bulk materials that are essential for industries such as power generation, steel manufacturing and aluminium production.

Situated on the western bank of the Hooghly within the Haldia Dock Complex, the terminal is expected to strengthen cargo movement across India’s eastern maritime corridor and support the supply chains of several industries in the region.

Developed under a DBFOT concession model

The project has been developed by HDC Bulk Terminal Ltd under a 30-year concession agreement following the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model. Construction work for the terminal commenced on July 14, 2023, and the project has been completed within the planned construction schedule.

The terminal infrastructure includes a berth length of 193 metres and a draft depth of 8.5 metres, while extreme mooring points extend to 337 metres. These specifications allow the facility to accommodate and manage large bulk cargo vessels more effectively.

Modern cargo handling systems

The terminal is equipped with advanced mechanised equipment aimed at improving operational efficiency and reducing cargo loss during handling. The facility includes two mobile harbour cranes, two stacker-cum-reclaimers, a railway wagon loading system with a capacity of 2,000 tonnes, a 2.10-kilometre conveyor network and a dedicated 1.54-kilometre railway line.

These integrated systems enable the direct transfer of cargo from ships to railway wagons, which helps reduce vessel waiting time and speeds up cargo evacuation. The rail connectivity is expected to lower logistics costs and ensure quicker transportation of raw materials to industries in West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.

Boost to eastern maritime logistics

India’s eastern coastline accounts for nearly 60 percent of the country’s dry bulk imports, including commodities such as coal, bauxite and limestone. Haldia has long served as a key maritime gateway supporting industries across eastern India.

The introduction of the automated bulk terminal is expected to improve cargo handling speed, reduce ship turnaround time and make logistics operations more efficient. In addition, the mechanised system will support safer and cleaner port operations by limiting manual cargo handling and reducing material losses during transfer.

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