KoPT plans to reclaim land to set up deeper draught port

After a detailed survey for identifying a suitable location for its proposed deepdrafted port, Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has identified Sagar island and is planning to reclaim 2,000 acres.

Minister of state for shipping Mukul Roy said that the port trust is planning to reclaim 2,000 acres in five years by utilising the dredged material at Auckland and Jellingham. "Sagar island can be developed as a maritime investment region and it has great prospects for eco-tourism and religious tourism," Mr Roy said.

The port would have around 12 meters of draught and it would be linked with the mainland by a road-cum-rail-bridge. It would also have a modern shipyard and a power plant based on natural gas.

The railway ministry has sanctioned the construction of a road-cum-rail bridge to connect Sagar island with the mainland at Kachuberia over the river Muriganga at a cost of Rs700 crore and the modalities are being worked out by the cabinet.