PM Narendra Modi launched multimodal development projects for Kolkata Port on Sunday. In an event celebrating 150 years of the Kolkata Port Trust, PM Modi stated that the long coastline of India from Gujarat’s Lothal Port to Kolkata Port was not only engaged in trade and business but also in the spread of civilization and culture across the world.
“Our government believes that our coasts are gateways to development. This is the reason the government started Sagarmala project for modernizing infrastructure and improving connectivity of the Ports.”
PM Narendra Modi
He also added that the Kolkata Port is connected to the industrial centers of eastern India due to the construction of river waterways. That has made trade easier with countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar.
PM inaugurated the Full Rake Handling Facility and dedicated the upgraded Railway Infrastructure of Kolkata Dock System of KoPT for smooth cargo movement and improving turnaround time. The upgraded Ship Repair Facility of Cochin Kolkata Ship Repair Unit at Netaji Subhas Dry Dock was also unveiled by him.
PM also launched the Mechanisation of Berth No.3 at Haldia Dock Complex of KoPT and a proposed riverfront development scheme.
Even the Union Minister of State for Shipping(I/c), Mansukh Mandaviya, expressed how Infrastructural Development has been given precedence in the past five years. He said that in the last five years, “more than Rs1200 crores has been spent on infrastructure development, better rail connectivity and Modernization of Kolkata Port”.
The Kolkata Port Trust was later renamed after Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee by the Prime Minister.
