Kolkata: The Centre has sanctioned Rs 430.7 crore to Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Kolkata (SMPK) for dredging operations to maintain navigability and ensure smooth vessel movement at Kolkata and Haldia ports.The funds will be used to remove silt and sand deposits from Hooghly River, ensuring adequate water depth for ships to navigate the channels safely, officials said.The Kolkata Dock System requires regular dredging along a 232-km stretch of Hooghly, while the Haldia Dock Complex needs maintenance dredging along a 125-km stretch. Silt accumulation reduces channel depth and can restrict the movement of vessels, particularly larger ships.Experts said regular dredging was indispensable to maintaining the operational viability of Kolkata port, making central assistance important. However, the port authority is also working towards gradually reducing its dependence on govt funding and achieving financial self-reliance in the long term.“Under the proposed plan, central assistance for dredging will be reduced in phases, with SMPK expected to meet the entire expenditure from its internal resources after the 2030-31 financial year,” an official said.From 2026-27, the SMPK authority will also have to meet specified performance targets to qualify for central financial assistance. “These will include the volume of cargo handled through public-private partnerships, modernisation of cargo-handling facilities, growth in cargo throughput and earnings before tax excluding subsidy income,” the official added.
