Behind Tajpur Port relocation: Land challenges, the Gujarat model, and a question of scale for West Bengal's key maritime project

The much-talked-about Tajpur greenfield deep-sea port project in West Bengal's East Midnapore district has now been shifted to another location by the West Bengal government.

There were plans for the Adani Group to develop the deep-sea port, but due to non-availability of land, the government is now looking to set up the port at Dadanpatrabar—within the same district—on over 1,700 acres of land, which has already been identified, as per CM Suvendu Adhikari.

The Tajpur Port project was approved by the erstwhile Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in 2020, and was to come under the West Bengal Maritime Board and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC). The deep-sea port was to entail an investment of ₹25,000 crore and was meant to improve access to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.

On the current scenario of a new site proposed for the port, West Bengal Finance Minister Dr Swapan Dasgupta opined that such a facility takes around 15 years to construct and with a change of location, the government is mulling other options like developing smaller jetties and inland waterways, following the Gujarat model.

“I think we should also consider whether we should go for the minor port strategy, which Gujarat has done very successfully. We are wondering whether we should go in for more jetties or inland waterways now, so those can complement that (deep-sea port). But that should not divert us (from constructing a deep-sea port),” Dasgupta noted.

Falta in the South 24 Parganas district emerges as an option, though the non-conducive road conditions of the connecting route—Diamond Harbour Road—brings up challenges for manufacturing firms.

The government has received proposals from prospective companies to develop jetties and inland waterways, but is yet to get a "meaningful proposal" to be approved by the Cabinet, the finance minister added.

Along with it, the state government also wants to improve the dockyards, with help from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), which is also looking into the matter. The state believes focusing on building dockyards will redo the beautification of the area too.

Improving road, rail and water connectivity is important for West Bengal to attract investments in various districts. The BJP government is confident of attracting investments across the state, which in turn will lead to employment generation.

A deep-sea port can handle large volumes of cargo vessels which will also provide a boost for the state's economy. The government is aiming to find solutions to the many challenges and hoping that the Tajpur project can be transformed into a reality in the years to come.