Tajpur is set to be Bengal’s 1st deep sea port

To be developed by Adani Group, the port will be built on unused land with no need to demolish, or remodel existing structures, making it the state's 1st greenfield port in close to 50 years.

Details:

• Tajpur will be the second-biggest port in West Bengal, after the Kolkata Port — now known as the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port (SMP).
• Tajpur Port is located near Tajpur in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district, some 200 km from Kolkata.
• It will enable a large ‘Capesize’, which is the largest class of cargo vessels. Previously the shallow draft has constrained larger ships to call on ports in the state.
• It will be Bengal’s first greenfield port in close to half a century.
• A greenfield project is one in which construction happens on unused land, where there is no need to remodel or demolish an existing structure.

What are Deep Sea Ports?

• A deep-sea port is usually made up for the usage of very large and heavily loaded ships.
• The depth of water helps get them access to the deep-water ports.
• The deep-sea port is compatible with the large heavy loaded ships which may require the water to be 30 feet deep or even more.

Development of the port:

• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), which is India’s largest port operator and a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Ports will be taking on this development project.
• The development of the port would entail an investment of Rs 25,000 crore.

Port-led development:

• The magnitude of investment is quite significant and has the potential to facilitate a lot of coastal development.
• It could facilitate development on the eastern freight development corridor, which goes through Amritsar (in Punjab) to Dankuni (in West Bengal).
• “It could facilitate a lot of exports- there is an abundance of coal, iron ore, and other minerals in that belt.
• When a port comes across, there will also be an improvement in the road infrastructure.

Viability of similar projects in the Future:

• Despite having a coastline due to technical issues more deep-water ports are not possible.
• Due to the heavy siltation of the Hooghly River, it is difficult to have more such ports on the coastline.

Significance:

• The Tajpur deep sea port will act as a maritime gateway for not only the state but the entire eastern region.
• With this project, India’s eastern region is set to become a hub of trade and investment.
• It is expected to ensure smoother access to neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, shipping sector.
• It will bring massive employment opportunities and a wave of progress to Bengal.