By IANS,
Kolkata: A port freight corridor, including a deeper-draught port, will come up in West Bengal, Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy said here Tuesday.
He said the shipping ministry had decided to set up a container terminal facility at Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district for Kolkata Dock System (KDS) and four berths at Salukhali near Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) for handling bulk cargo.
“For making the proposed port corridor a fruitful one railway connectivity is required. We have already spoken to the Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and she has agreed to the proposal,” Roy said.
“The railway minister has requested the chairman of railway board, Vivek Sahai to discuss the matter with KoPt chairman and finalise the project. KoPT chairman M.L. Meena will meet with Sahai Thursday to prepare the project report,” he said.
According to KOPT officials, the railways have to lay a two km-long track from Diamond harbour station to proposed container terminal site and another 8 km long track from Haldia-Panskura section to Salukhali near HDC.
“The rail connectivity is very essential to make the proposed port facilities viable. The KoPT has decided to set up the port facilities on the new locations to overcome the ongoing draught problem which is affecting the business badly,” said Roy.
He also said that KoPT chairman and the railway board will discuss on constructing about a five km long railway bridge over Muriganga river in South 24 Parganas and laying of around 40 km long tracks from Namkhana to proposed port site, about 32 km down the stream from Kachuberia over the river.
He said both the port facilities at Diamond harbour and Salukhali will be in operation before December 2011 and a expert committee has been set up to conduct a feasibility survey for the deeper draught port near Sagar.
“Without the upgradation of port facilities, the economy of a state will not prosper so the shipping ministry and the KoPT have decided to upgrade and set up new port facilities,” said Roy.
He also said KoPT will sign a memorandum of understanding Friday with the Kolkata municipal corporation to beautify the Ganga river front, starting from Cossipore to Garden Reach.