Syama Prasad Port: Inauguration of China Calcutta Service (CCS)

23 Jul 2024 CW Team

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMP Kolkata), in alliance with Pacific International Lines (PIL), announced the inauguration of the China Calcutta Service (CCS) at the Kolkata Dock System (KDS). The new direct weekly service from China to Kolkata, aiming to meet the growing demand for reduced transit times from Far East Ports to Kolkata, enhances connectivity and efficiency for stakeholders.

The CCS features three dedicated vessels ? Kota Ria, Kota Rukun, and Kota Rakiyat ? each capable of carrying an average parcel load of 622 TEUs, designed specifically for navigating lower draft conditions. This service ensures a transit period of just 10 to 12 days, significantly improving logistical efficiency and addressing the needs of customers in India and Nepal. The port rotation includes XIAMEN ? SHEKOU ? SINGAPORE ? KOLKATA ? SINGAPORE ? XIAMEN, facilitating strong connectivity and promoting trade growth in the region.

The inaugural vessel, M/V Kota Rakyat, was welcomed by Shri Samrat Rahi, Deputy Chairman of SMPK, at Kolkata Dock System on July 18, 2024. Also present were Traffic Manager Shri R. S. Rajhans and other senior officers of KDS. Following this maiden voyage, Kota Rukun is scheduled to commence service on July 25, 2024. This weekly service is expected to enhance shipping efficiency for EXIM trade across West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, the Northeast states of India, as well as Nepal and Bhutan.

Infrastructure Transport

07 Apr 2026

Tunnelling Begins for Thane, Borivali twin tunnel project

Tunnelling work has commenced for the 11.84-km Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel, set to be India’s longest urban road tunnel, marking a key milestone in Mumbai’s infrastructure development.As per a post shared by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority on social media platform X, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘Nayak’—the country’s largest single-shield hard rock TBM for an urban tunnel—was launched by Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday. The event was attended by Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, among other dignitaries. A second TBM, ‘Arjuna’, is expected to be launched so..

Large Format Store Planned At M G Road Metro Station

M G Road station in Bengaluru is set to host the city’s first large-format commercial and experience space, with planning led by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited. BMRCL has invited proposals to develop and operate a central business district destination at the Purple?Pink Line interchange. The plan positions the station as a commercial hub designed to serve a broad commuter base across the city. The proposal is part of a broader effort to activate transit nodes commercially. Tender documents set a minimum monthly rental of Rs 0.944 million (mn), inclusive of GST, for the large-format..

Government Cancels Auction Of Eleven Critical Mineral Blocks

The government has cancelled the auction of 11 critical and strategic mineral blocks after receiving a poor investor response and failing to attract a sufficient number of qualified bidders. The decision represents a setback to plans to ramp up domestic exploration and production of critical minerals amid global supply chain disruptions and rising demand for materials used in clean energy and advanced technologies. The mines ministry issued an annulment notice setting out the reasons for the cancellations. The annulment notice indicated that the auction process for five mineral blocks was canc..