, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has handed over the Haldia Multi-Modal){kind=link}
OCT 17: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has handed over the Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT) in West Bengal to IRC Natural Resources, marking a significant milestone in India’s inland waterway development under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Built under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) with financial and technical support from the World Bank, the Haldia terminal has a handling capacity of 3.08 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). Inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on January 13, 2023, the terminal is strategically connected to National Highway 41 and is set to gain rail connectivity, enhancing multimodal logistics in the region.
Under a 15-year concession agreement, IRC Natural Resources will operate and maintain the terminal, initially for 10 years with a five-year extension option. Selected through an open bidding process, the company will pay a royalty of ₹105.03 per metric tonne of cargo to IWAI.
The operationalization of Haldia MMT is expected to boost cargo movement via inland waterways, providing a cost-effective, faster, and environmentally friendly alternative for transporting goods, especially to the North Eastern states and Bangladesh.
The JMVP focuses on developing the 1,390 km stretch of National Waterway-1, spanning Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Key interventions include fairway maintenance, construction of multi-modal and inter-modal terminals, installation of modern navigational locks, and over 60 jetties, benefiting riverine communities and facilitating efficient cargo transport.
The handover reflects the government’s commitment to promoting sustainable inland water transport, strengthening PPP participation, and improving multimodal logistics, supporting economic growth while reducing the environmental footprint of freight movement.