“Initial estimated cost for civil works is ₹13.68 crore as per port estimates, but the figures may change as we proceed further,” Sethia said
| Photo Credit:
Malathi Ramanathan 2657
Logistics company Western Carriers, which won the bid for the development and operation of a general cargo terminal at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata, expects the facility to further boost its business volumes for both domestic as well as EXIM cargo.
The terminal is already operational but further development of the facility will be immediately taken up with the aim to increase the throughput capabilities as well as the service offerings, said Kanishka Sethia, Director and CEO, Western Carriers (India).
“We were very keen on the facility as we wanted to have a terminal on the East coast to cater to our large internal volumes as well as to create a base for further expansion in the supply chain service offerings. We already have a 42 acre facility in Devaliya in Gujarat in the West and now this excellent facility in the East to help us grow our business many fold on the critical East to West corridor,” Sethia told businessline.
Launched in July 2025, Devaliya Multi Modal Cargo Terminal (MMCT) is located in the important Saurashtra region and mainly caters to the ceramic and tiles industry, alongside the industrial chemicals and foodgrains segments. The company has added more service destinations across the country and more service offerings for various industrial verticals.
The Kolkata-based company has won the bid for the development and operation of the General Cargo Terminal (GCT) at GCD Yard of the Kolkata Dock System of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, formerly Kolkata Port.
“Initial estimated cost for civil works is ₹13.68 crore as per port estimates, but the figures may change as we proceed further,” Sethia said.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port is a gateway to eastern India and for the rest of the world. It has a synergistic linkage with the city of Kolkata with an array of road, rail and inland waterway connecting all parts of the country. Specifically, SMPA is connected to Eastern Railways (ER) through Sealdah and Budge Budge sections.
“This facility now gives Western Carriers a further boost to increase business volumes as well as rail modal share in freight transport originating from and terminating at Kolkata port for both domestic as well as EXIM cargo. This facility allows us to develop and augment our rail capacity by allowing us operations of a major freight terminal facility at port sidings thereby further strengthening our leadership position in multimodal logistics,” the CEO said.
The terminal is capable of handling all types of dry bulk/break bulk cargo as well as all types of containers.
Published on September 1, 2026
