SMPK Eyes Double-Digit Cargo Growth in FY25 After Uptick

23 May 2025 CW Team

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), is targeting double-digit cargo growth in financial year 2025, supported by mechanisation projects at Haldia and Calcutta, night navigation support, and a revival in the steel sector following a safeguard duty to protect domestic industry.

The port handled 63.95 million tonnes of cargo in FY25, a decline of 3.75 per cent from the record 66.44 million tonnes in FY24. Meanwhile, the twelve government-controlled major ports collectively posted a 4.34 per cent rise in cargo. SMPK recorded a 45.32 per cent increase in cargo handling in April 2025 compared to the previous year.

SMPK granted concessions worth Rs 700 million in FY25, encouraging shippers to use the port more. Infrastructure upgrades include a coal ship-to-rail mechanisation project by Adani Ports at Haldia and additional container handling equipment at Calcutta. Century Ports will also revamp cargo operations at Kidderpore Docks in FY26.

The port will benefit from taking over inland water terminal operations between Haldia and Sahibganj in Jharkhand. The twelve per cent safeguard duty on steel is expected to boost local mills’ capacity and increase demand for coking coal imports, benefiting the port.

If SMPK achieves its target, it will be the first time since its establishment in 1870 that the port handles 70 million tonnes of cargo. Early signs are promising, with thermal coal movement resuming and coking coal nearly doubling to 1.78 million tonnes in April 2025.

Source:Sambit Saha

Infrastructure Transport

01 Jun 2026

MMRDA advances 250 m on Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 250 m of underground tunnelling for the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Urban Road Tunnel using India’s largest slurry shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) deployed for an urban road project.The project involves twin tunnels extending over 7 km beneath critical transport corridors, including Central Railway, Western Railway and Metro Line 3. The work requires high-precision engineering to navigate densely developed urban infrastructure.Once completed, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marin..

Hindustan Zinc Pays Rs 188.46 Billion in FY26

Hindustan Zinc contributed Rs 188.46 billion to the public exchequer in FY 2025-26, according to its 9th Tax Transparency Report. The contribution, equivalent to 46 per cent of the company’s revenue, included direct and indirect taxes, government royalties, dividends to the Government of India, withholding taxes and other statutory levies.The company’s five-year cumulative contribution to the exchequer stood at Rs 915.72 billion. In FY26, Hindustan Zinc reported revenue of Rs 408.44 billion, EBITDA of Rs 221.62 billion and profit after tax of Rs 138.32 billion. It also achieved its highest..

World of Concrete India 2026 Opens in Mumbai

Informa Markets in India will host the 12th edition of World of Concrete India 2026 from 3–5 June 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The specialised B2B exhibition will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, developers, architects, consultants, infrastructure companies, project leaders and government stakeholders.The event is expected to feature over 350 brands and more than 18,000 trade professionals. It will cover concrete and cement, dry mortar, precast technologies, formwork, construction chemicals, industrial and commercial flooring, scaffolding, safety solutio..