The Hindu Business Line : Plan panel advisor visits Kolkata Dock

Mr G. Haldea, Advisor to the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, visited Kidderpore and Netaji Subhas docks of the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) recently and reviewed the performance of both KDS and Haldia dock.

The senior officials of Kolkata port made presentations highlighting the improved performance of the port and also drew his attention to various problems, including the navigability of the Hooghly river, delay in the implementation of the River Regulatory Scheme and poor connectivity.

Widening of NH 41

Thus, the work on the widening of the 60-km-long National Highway 41 connecting Haldia dock with National Highway 6 had been inordinately delayed, so much so that the completion of the work within the targeted December 2006 would not be possible. The National Highway Authority of India, which is executing the project, must expedite the work, it was felt. The need for a rail-cum-road overbridge at Rani Chowk, the entrance at Haldia, was also emphasised.

The issue of doubling of the rail connectivity between Panskura and Haldia too came up for a review. Only 14 km of the 57-km stretch had been completed; and in the Railway Budget for 2006-07, there was no allocation of funds for the completion of the unfinished work. It was unfortunate because the Haldia dock handled as much as 16 million tonnes of rail-borne traffic and the volume was projected to increase in the coming years.

KDS connectivity

The issue of connectivity to KDS too was reviewed. Although the Container Corporation of India operated a full-fledged terminal within the KDS, the volume of traffic to and from north India left much to be desired. The roads within the dock system and also those connecting it need to be improved, updated and augmented.

The proposal for a deep-sea port in West Bengal for which the Centre had sanctioned Rs 10 crore for undertaking a feasibility study was also discussed. The shipping secretary, it is learnt, has convened a meeting to work out the modalities for how to go about it on March 22.