The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata has reported a profit of Rs 501.73 crore for FY’24, marking a 65 per cent jump compared to the previous fiscal year.
With a total cargo handling of 66.4 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT), the port set an all-time record, marking a 1.11% increase from the previous year’s milestone of 65.66 million tonnes in 2022-23.
Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) played a pivotal role in this accomplishment by handling 49.54 MMT of cargo in FY 2023-24, marking its highest cargo volume ever. This surpassed the previous record of 48.608 MMT in FY 2022-23 by 1.91%. Meanwhile, the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) managed 16.856 MMT of cargo in 2023-24, compared to 17.052 MMT in the preceding fiscal year.
SMP Kolkata is focusing on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects. Two PPP projects, including the Rejuvenation of KPD-I West and Mechanization of Berth no. 2 at HDC, have been awarded, with a potential incremental capacity addition of 6.78 MMT. Furthermore, three more projects are expected to reach the award stage by 2024-25, contributing to additional capacity growth.
Several major projects were completed during FY 2023-24, including the development of drainage networks at Haldia Dock Complex and the implementation of energy-efficient fittings and rooftop solar power plants at KDS. Additionally, four major projects, such as the procurement of rail-mounted quay cranes and augmentation of fire-fighting systems, were successfully executed.
Both HDC and KDS witnessed growth in various cargo categories, including POL, vegetable oil, iron ore, finished fertilizer, and containers, underscoring the port’s overall upward trajectory in cargo handling.