Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK) has inaugurated its first public-private partnership (PPP) terminal at Khidderpore Docks, marking a milestone in the modernisation of the city’s historic dock system.

The Century Ports Terminal, developed at a cost of Rs 190 crore, was formally commissioned with state-ofthe-art infrastructure including a mobile harbour crane, a barge unloader, advanced yard equipment, and a terminal operating system (TOS). The facility has an initial handling capacity of 1.65 lakh TEUs of containers and 3.3 lakh tonnes of cargo.

“The inauguration of our first PPP terminal at Khidderpore Docks paves the way for increased cargo handling and encourages the modernisation of other berths at the dock. It is the result of relentless effort, collaboration and vision,” said SMPK Chairman Rathendra Raman.

The concession agreement for the terminal, signed in 2022 for a 30-year term, is expected to significantly improve cargo movement by integrating road, rail, and inland waterway connectivity. SMPK also announced a pipeline of over Rs 4,000 crore PPP projects at Kolkata and Haldia docks to be operational within the next year.