Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
PM GATI SHAKTI MULTIMODAL MARITIME SUMMIT-2022 INAUGURATED IN KOLKATA
Kolkata, November 23, 2022
A two day summit on Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti Multimodal Maritime Plan 2022 was inaugurated in Kolkata today , 23.11.2022 under the aegis of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata . Addressing the Summit, Shri Shantanu Thakur, Hon’ble Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govt of India said that SMP Kolkata , the oldest Port of the country, has a strategic location for connectivity to the North-East and to the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. “The Port has immense potential which can be further harnessed through PM’s Gati Shakti Plan. The seamless multimodal connectivity to the north-eastern states is an important catalyst for economic growth and port led industrialization,” Shri Thakur added.
Joining the inaugural session as special guest, Shri Gopal Krishna, Principal Program Advisor of Cross Border Infrastructure and Connectivity Program , USAID and Former Secretary of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said, “Gati Shakti is a much needed catalyst for growth in our country which will allow for holistic development of industries and infrastructure in India. The government’s initiatives to create access to transparent and comprehensive data for the industry is an unprecedented step for the all round development and creation of infrastructure which will immensely help the private players to partake in the opportunities created by India’s growth story.”
Addressing the Summit, Shri Shambhu Singh, Former Special Secretary & Financial Advisor, MoRTH, shared the benefits of the Gati Shakti Plan and the opportunities that it would open for infrastructural growth of the country. Shri Singh said, “Gati Shakti is a unique platform which would help in cutting time and cost delays and lead to better planning of resources which is critical for the economic prosperity of the country.”
Shri PL Haranadh, Chairman, SMP Kolkata said that SMPK with its 150+ years of experience of handling EXIM cargo handling has a key role in connecting the hinterland and North-East India through inland waterways. Bangladesh, in particular, was an important node through the IBP  and the opportunities created by the waterways would create a win-win situation for both India and Bangladesh by reducing cost and time delays and allow for integrated connectivity for people and industry. Shri Haranadh further said that, “Gati Shakti is a transformative approach for a riverine port like SMP Kolkata which has huge potential in multimodality through Waterways, Rail and Road. He further shared the connectivity vision of the Port and the development plan in Amrit Kaal with the Port poised to have a capacity of 200+ MMT.
Deputy Chairman of Haldia Dock complex, Shri A.K. Mehera presented a brief summary of the port plans and offered the vote of thanks.
The inaugural session was followed by a technical session on demonstration of the PM Gati Shakti NMP Portal by BISAG–N and a session on Port Rail connectivity. Senior experts from Eastern Railway, Sagarmala Development company, Pipavav Railway and others led the deliberations in these two sessions. The Summit saw a wide participation from various stakeholders and a healthy round of discussion with the industry leaders.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port  is playing a key role in the strategic planning and development of integrated connectivity approach for creation of modern infrastructure. SMP which is India’s only riverine port with 150+ years experience of EXIM handling and holds the unique advantage of rail, road and inland waterways, organized the two- day PM Gati Shakti Multimodal Maritime summit on November 23-24, 2022 in Kolkata.
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