Shri P. L. Haranadh, Chairman of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP) in Kolkata, announced that the port has set a new all-time record for cargo traffic. Between April 2022 and January 2023, SMP Kolkata handled a total of 54.254 million tonnes of cargo, which represents a growth of 14.75% over the same period in the previous year. This figure is significantly higher than the national average, highlighting the impressive success of the port in the past year.
In addition to this impressive feat, SMP Kolkata has also climbed up the ranks among Indian major ports. During April 2022 to January 2023 period, the port was ranked 5th in cargo handling, up from 6th in the previous year. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team at SMP Kolkata, who have been working tirelessly to achieve this success.
The success of SMP Kolkata is not limited to the port as a whole but is also reflected in the performance of its individual components. The Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) handled 40.162 million tonnes of cargo between April 2022 and January 2023, an increase of 15.58% over the previous year. Similarly, the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) handled 14.092 million tonnes of cargo, representing a growth of 12.44%. The rail-borne traffic also saw a significant increase, with 28.823 million tonnes of cargo handled during this period, a growth of 15.41% over the previous year.
This growth can be attributed to the handling of a diverse range of commodities, including LPG, vegetable oil, manganese ore, iron and steel, pulses/areas, coking coal, and containers at KDS. At HDC, the major commodities were POL (crude), LPG, other ore, coking coal, non-coking coal, fly ash, and limestone. These diverse offerings have helped SMP Kolkata attract new and additional cargo, leading to increased traffic.
Shri Haranadh attributed this success to the hard work and dedication of the employees at SMP Kolkata, who have worked tirelessly to improve the services, facilities, and customer-friendly charges. The port has also taken several multi-faceted, user-friendly measures to enhance the overall experience for customers. These efforts have paid off, as SMP Kolkata is expected to handle more than 65 million tonnes of cargo by the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year, up from 58.175 million tonnes in the previous year.
The impressive growth in cargo traffic at SMP Kolkata is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team at the port. The success can be attributed to the handling of a diverse range of commodities, as well as the port’s focus on improving services and facilities. With this momentum, SMP Kolkata is set to achieve even greater success in the future.
