IWAI Hands Over Kalughat Terminal, Begins Cargo at Haldia MMT

10 Nov 2025 CW Team

The Kalughat Intermodal Terminal (IMT) in Bihar has been formally handed over to SAPL – Summit Alliance Port East Gateway (India) for operations and maintenance. Simultaneously, cargo operations have commenced at the Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT) in West Bengal, operated by IRC Natural Resources, with Tata Steel dispatching the first consignment of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS) bound for Pandu, Guwahati in Assam.

These developments mark a major stride in the professional and sustainable management of terminals developed under JMVP, furthering the government’s vision of integrated multimodal connectivity, public–private partnerships (PPP), and green logistics along the Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly river system.

Kalughat Terminal Handover to SAPL

Constructed with World Bank assistance, the Kalughat IMT is located in Saran district, Bihar, and is designed to handle diverse cargo types, thereby boosting trade and connectivity in the region. Under the PPP model, SAPL will operate and maintain the terminal on a revenue-sharing basis, with IWAI receiving 38.30 per cent of the gross revenue. This partnership ensures commercial efficiency while safeguarding public interest.

Haldia MMT Begins Cargo Operations

At the downstream end of NW-1, the Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal, also built under JMVP, has begun operations with a cargo handling capacity of 3.08 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). Its first consignment from Tata Steel marks a significant step in positioning inland waterways as an economical and eco-friendly logistics corridor linking Eastern India with the North East.

Driving Sustainable Inland Logistics

These initiatives align with the government’s broader mission to make Inland Water Transport (IWT) a central pillar of India’s logistics ecosystem. Under JMVP, IWAI has enhanced the 1,390 km stretch of NW-1 through fairway development, construction of terminals, and installation of over 60 community jetties for riverine communities.

Sunil Kumar Singh, Chairman, IWAI, said, “The transfer of Kalughat and Haldia terminals to PPP operators marks a major milestone in optimising terminal operations, improving cargo efficiency, and unlocking new opportunities for trade and growth across riverine regions.”

The transition to PPP-led operations underlines IWAI’s continued commitment to sustainable infrastructure, operational excellence, and seamless cargo movement—strengthening India’s inland waterways and promoting a greener, integrated logistics future.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has achieved two key milestones under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on National Waterway-1, advancing India’s inland water transport network.The Kalughat Intermodal Terminal (IMT) in Bihar has been formally handed over to SAPL – Summit Alliance Port East Gateway (India) for operations and maintenance. Simultaneously, cargo operations have commenced at the Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT) in West Bengal, operated by IRC Natural Resources, with Tata Steel dispatching the first consignment of Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS) bound for Pandu, Guwahati in Assam.These developments mark a major stride in the professional and sustainable management of terminals developed under JMVP, furthering the government’s vision of integrated multimodal connectivity, public–private partnerships (PPP), and green logistics along the Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly river system.Kalughat Terminal Handover to SAPLConstructed with World Bank assistance, the Kalughat IMT is located in Saran district, Bihar, and is designed to handle diverse cargo types, thereby boosting trade and connectivity in the region. Under the PPP model, SAPL will operate and maintain the terminal on a revenue-sharing basis, with IWAI receiving 38.30 per cent of the gross revenue. This partnership ensures commercial efficiency while safeguarding public interest.Haldia MMT Begins Cargo OperationsAt the downstream end of NW-1, the Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal, also built under JMVP, has begun operations with a cargo handling capacity of 3.08 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). Its first consignment from Tata Steel marks a significant step in positioning inland waterways as an economical and eco-friendly logistics corridor linking Eastern India with the North East.Driving Sustainable Inland LogisticsThese initiatives align with the government’s broader mission to make Inland Water Transport (IWT) a central pillar of India’s logistics ecosystem. Under JMVP, IWAI has enhanced the 1,390 km stretch of NW-1 through fairway development, construction of terminals, and installation of over 60 community jetties for riverine communities.Sunil Kumar Singh, Chairman, IWAI, said, “The transfer of Kalughat and Haldia terminals to PPP operators marks a major milestone in optimising terminal operations, improving cargo efficiency, and unlocking new opportunities for trade and growth across riverine regions.”The transition to PPP-led operations underlines IWAI’s continued commitment to sustainable infrastructure, operational excellence, and seamless cargo movement—strengthening India’s inland waterways and promoting a greener, integrated logistics future.

Equipment

29 Nov 2025

Powering India’s Infra Future

Excon 2025, South Asia’s largest construction equipment exhibition, is set to return in a grand 13th edition from 9-13 December 2025 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru. Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and supported by the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (ICEMA), the mega event is expected to reinforce its position as the premier marketplace for construction technologies, equipment and infrastructure solutions. The event will host over 1,250 exhibitors, including 160+ international participants, and attract mor..

Infrastructure Urban

29 Nov 2025

India will be a strategic part of our growth to 2028

Smiley Monroe is strengthening its footprint in India as a key growth market for its conveyor belts and engineered components business. In this interaction, Prabhu Gopinath, Operations Director, outlines the company’s expansion roadmap, quality focus, and sustainability commitments driving future scale.Can you share Smiley Monroe's journey and its core mission?Smiley Monroe was started in Northern Ireland in 1979, supplying conveyor belts to local quarries. Since then, the company has grown to become a global leader in the supply of endless belts and CNC-cut rubber and plastic part..

Equipment

29 Nov 2025

Infra Engineers India Pvt Ltd Accelerates Hybrid Excavation

Infra Engineers India Pvt Ltd (IEPL), headquartered in Chennai, has emerged as a trusted name in the used construction equipment business for nearly a decade. What sets IEPL apart is its commitment to research and development, consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation to deliver cutting-edge solutions to the industry.A first-of-its-kind hybrid excavatorAmong IEPL’s most significant achievements is the development of the pioneering Dual Electric & Diesel Hybrid Excavator—the first of its kind in the construction equipment industry, a breakthrough that even major OEMs have yet to..