West Bengal is one of the 13 maritime states and union territories in India with a coastline of 950 kilometres. It is richly endowed with natural maritime advantages, navigable and potentially navigable waterways including NW1 and 15 other NWs. It lies on important national & international trade routes to China, Bangladesh, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. and other Coastal states. The state acts as a gateway to East & North-East, and serves as a port of entry to land locked states of Central & Northern India and Nepal and Bhutan, its neighbouring countries.

Ports of West Bengal-Current Scenario
Two major ports exist at Kolkata and Haldia:
KoPT was adjudged 'Major Port of the Year' for 2014-15 for handling 16% of total no. of vessels during 2014-2015. Capacity augmentation and mechanization at huge scale is necessary to cater to growing demand. Bhor Sagar Port, a major new deep-sea portat Sagar Island coming up in 2019, work on the project has started. A new deep-sea port is proposed near Tajpur and a minor port at Kulpi.

Major opportunities in Maritime Sector

• Ports: Upcoming major and minor ports/fishing harbours.
• Port led industrialization.
• Port led infrastructure development.
• Inland waterways.
• Development of coastal region/coastal community development.

Opportunities in Port-led Industrialization

• Proposed New Refinery.
• Upcoming Chemical park/ Plastic park/ Rubber park.
• New IOC Bottling Plant.
• New LNG Terminal for Greater Calcutta Gas Supply Corporation.
• Solar park in Sagar Island.
• Thermal power plant cluster in Purba Medinipur.
• Clusters -Cement/Fertilizer/Leather/Food Processing.

Opportunities in Port-Led Industrialization for Allied Industries

• Shipbuilding, War-ship, Barge manufacturing, Jetty manufacturing.
• Ship repair, Ship breaking, Ship recycling, Jetty repair
• Offshore storage, Bunkering facilities, Drilling Platforms.
• Logistics parks, Multi-modal transport hub.
• Warehousing services, Container freight stations.
• Manufacturing of vessels for coastal/inland waterways.

Opportunities in Inland Waterways

• More scope to carry cargo along National Waterways from ports in Bay of Bengal to North India
• Movement of imported coal from Bay of Bengal to thermal power plants located in hinterlands
• Construction and development of IW Jetties through PPP mode in Kolkata on NW-1
• Vessel and Barge Building and repairing facility for Envisaged Cargo Projection
• Upgrading of Indo-Bangladesh Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol
• Operation and maintenance of River Information system

Other potential opportunities also exist in port-led infrastructure development like railway infrastructure, road networks, port-based urbanization, island development & coastal tourism.

Projects worth more than US$ 6558 mn that will require port support for industrial growth

• Investment in Refinery by TCG.
• GEECL investment in West Bengal.
• Investment in LNG Pipeline by H-Energy.
• Essel Group Investment in Urban Development, Highway, Tourism and IT.
• Shree Cements investment in West Bengal.
• Ambuja Cements investment in West Bengal.
• Investment at Salbani by Jindal Group.
• Investment at Raghunathpur Steel & Allied Industrial Park by DVC.
• Mahindra & Mahindra investment in West Bengal.
• Investment at Plastic Park.
• Zhongtong Bus Holding Co. Ltd investment in West Bengal.
• Titagarh Towers setting of modern passenger train facility.

Initiatives taken by State Government

• West Bengal Maritime Board Act implemented
• West Bengal Maritime Board constituted in October 2015 & made fully functional
• Sagarmala Steering Committee headed by the Honorable Chief Minister.
• Single window system to manage and clear all investments in the State.