The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK) and joint venture (JV) of Bothra Shipping Services Private Limited and Ripley and Company Stevedoring and Handling Private Limited signed concession agreement for the mechanisation of berth no. 5 project (erstwhile berth 4b) at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) on September 5, 2024. Besides, a letter of intent for the same has also been issued.
The project involves mechanisation of berth no. 5 on a design, build, finance, operate, transfer basis under public-private partnership mode at HDC in West Bengal for a concession period of 30 years. The capacity and estimated cost of the project are 5 million metric tonnes per annum and Rs 3.65 billion, respectively.