Work Begins on Balagarh Port Road Link as ₹539 Crore Hooghly Project Moves to the Ground

Summary

Construction of the road and bridge connecting the proposed Balagarh port in West Bengal’s Hooghly district began on October 12, marking the first physical works on the ₹539 crore project. Developed by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, the barge terminal is designed to handle 2.7 million tonnes a year of container and coal cargo and ease congestion at the Kolkata Dock System.

Article

Hooghly: Work on the access road and bridge for the Balagarh port began with a foundation ceremony on Monday, October 12, 2026, the first on-ground step for the upriver cargo facility planned by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata.

The port is planned at Sripur Char in Balagarh, and officials expect the connectivity works to be completed within two years.

What does the project include?

The overall project, officially called the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh, has an estimated cost of ₹539.17 crore. It comprises a publicly funded engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) component of ₹131.97 crore and a public-private partnership (PPP) component of ₹407.2 crore.

The works include:

• A 4 km approach road
• A road over bridge
• A barge terminal with two berths, one for coal and one for containers

Each berth is planned to be about 120 metres long and 30 metres wide. The terminal is projected to handle 2.7 million tonnes of cargo a year, supported by road and rail links and dredging to maintain year-round navigation.

How has the project progressed?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh, including the inland water transport terminal and road over bridge, at Singur on January 18, 2026.

The project received environmental clearance on January 24, 2025. Under the EPC component, the work order for the road over bridge was issued on January 9, 2026, and the road construction tender was opened on February 2, 2026.

At a road show in Kolkata on October 7, organised by SMP Kolkata and the Inland Waterways Authority of India, Subrata Gupta, Adviser to the West Bengal Chief Minister, said, “Balagarh is a unique example of Centre-State coordination.” He noted that the Centre is providing rail, road and waterway connectivity, while the state is making industrial land available.

Who attended the ceremony?

The ceremony was attended by Balagarh MLA and Minister of State for Health Sumana Sarkar, former Hooghly MP Loket Chatterjee and Hooghly District Magistrate Khurshid Ali Qadari, along with officials from the Public Works Department and the port.

Chatterjee said the project would support improvements in rail, waterway and road connectivity. Sarkar described it as a major development for Balagarh, said construction would be completed within two years and credited local residents for their cooperation. Qadari said he hoped the port would boost the district’s economic development.

How many jobs are expected?

Officials expect around 1,500 direct jobs once the port is operational, with ancillary industries adding an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 more.

Why does it matter?

Balagarh lies about 75 km north of Kolkata. SMP plans to use it as an extended gate for the Kolkata Dock System: cargo trucked from the north can be unloaded at Balagarh and moved by barge to the docks, and vice versa, reducing the number of trucks entering Kolkata.

The facility is also expected to boost cargo movement on National Waterway 1. Its value will depend on how quickly the terminal and berths follow the connectivity works, and how well road, rail and waterway links are integrated to draw cargo away from congested city routes.

FAQs

What work began at Balagarh on October 12?

Construction of the access road and bridge linking the proposed Balagarh port to the regional transport network began with a foundation ceremony.

How much will the Balagarh port project cost?

The Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh has an estimated cost of ₹539.17 crore, split between EPC and PPP components.

What cargo will the port handle?

The barge terminal will have one coal berth and one container berth, with a projected capacity of 2.7 million tonnes a year.

Why is the Balagarh port being built?

It will act as an extended gate for the Kolkata Dock System, moving cargo by barge to reduce truck traffic in Kolkata and promote use of National Waterway 1.

When will the works be completed?

Officials expect the connectivity works to be completed within two years.