Port development in Haldia

Abstract

The ports of Haldia and Calcutta are located landinward along the Hooghly river respectively 43 and 145 kilometer from the Bay of Bengal. In this report a masterplan will be developed to concentrate the port activities of both ports in Haldia. Roughly 50% of India's population is living in extreme poverty. The Government considers growth of the economy , resulting in a higher employment, to be of paramount importance to solve the poverty problem. In the 7th Five Year Plan, which started in 1984, it was planned to increase the Gross Domestic Product, indicator for economic productivity, with 5% per annum. One of the measures taken to realise the objectives of the 7th Five Year Plan is further port development. If a ship is heading for Haldia or Calcutta it has to cross respectively 3 or 15 sandbars between the Bay of Bengal and the port , which is only possible during High water. The dept of the river and, to a lesser extent, the estuary are the most limiting factors for the draught of vessels. Both ports were constructed as impounded dock systems. Especially in Calcutta the dimensions of the locks and the available water depth in the dock restrict the size of the visiting ships. The turn around time of vessels in the port is high and mainly depends on the cargo hand ling process. The port of Calcutta can be described as a congested traditional breakbulk port . The combination of outdated quays and sheds , frequent breakdown of equipment and bad management result in an inefficient cargo handling process. Haldia was set up as an auxiliary port for handling mainly bulk cargoes. Consequently appropriate equipment and ample storage area have been provided. The area reserved for port activities in the existing masterplan allows further expansion of the port. Transport to and from the hinterland in Calcutta is hampered by the overburdened internal port- and metropolis road system. Lack of storage- and parking area are the underly ing problem in regard of the port road system. In spite of the difficult road transport the share of railway and inland waterway transport is almost negligible. In Haldia there is only one road- and railway connection with the national systems, however, liquid bulk cargo, a considerable part on the total cargo, is transported by pipeline.