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Home >> State Profiles >> West Bengal

Economic Infrastructure of West Bengal

Economic Profile Economic Infrastructure Institutes and Universities
 

Airport : Kolkata Airport is the International Airport and Behala, Cooch Behar and Bagdogra at Siliguri are the domestic airports in West Bengal.

Ports

Kolkatta Port
Kolkata Port - the oldest port in India came in existence in the year 1870. It is the only riverine major Port in India situated 232 Kms. inside the river Hooghly from Sand head. The Kolkata Dock System is situated on the left bank of the Hooghly river 150 Km. from the Middleton Fairway buoy. In 1998-99 the Kolkata Port handled 9.163 million tons of cargo. In 1999-2000 the cargo had increased to 10.311 million tons.

The facilities of Kolkata Port can be grouped into four locational sets:  
Kidderpore Dock in Kolkata
Netaji Subhash Dock in Kolkata
Petroleum wharf at Baj Baj
Anchorage at Diamond Harbour.

Kolkata Port is connected through Eastern railways. By road it is connected to North Eastern States and Western India through National highways NH-34 and NH-2, respectively. Through Inland waters it is connected to National Water way No.1, No.2, Sunderbans and to Bangladesh.

In Kolkata Dock System, Kidderpore Dock contains 18 births, 6 Buoy Mrgs and 3 Dry Docks. Netaji Subhash Docks contains 14 births, 2 Buoy Mrgs and 2 Dry Docks. Baj Baj River Mrgs consist 6 Petroleum wharves.

To cope with the requirement of the trade, the Kolkata Port started container handling facilities. In its modernization program a new approach jetty at Netaji Subash Dock to induct modern multipurpose vessels for marine services is completed. Kolkata Port is also the first in India to introduce VTMS System for a better service to maritime shipping. It also set up the facilities of Floating Storage Offtake.

The Kolkata Port provides appropriate navigational aids as: Light House, Light Vessels, Automatic Tide Gauges, Semaphores, River Marks, Wireless VHF network, Syledis Chain System, Differential Global Position Fixing System (DGPS), Vessel Traffic Management System etc.

The Port also maintains a flotilla consisting of dredgers, pilot vessels, survey research vessels, togs, launches etc.

Haldia Port

Haldia Dock Complex was commissioned in the year 1977 on the western bank of river Hooghly 50 kms from the pilot Boarding Point. The Haldia Dock Complex was projected to cater to the increasing foreign trade. Haldia Dock Complex was the first modern port project taken up in India having the facilities to handle all types of traffic and bulk cargo. It is also the first dock system in India to provide full-fledged container handling facilities.

There are twelve berths in Haldia Dock System. Nine berths are inside the compounded dock system and the oil jetties are situated on the Hooghly river bank. Out of nine berths inside the dock, two are mechanized coal handling births, berth no.9 is primarily used as a container handling berth, berth no.6 and 7 handle liquid bulk cargo. Others are used for general cargo and containers .

The facilities at Haldia Dock Complex can be grouped as :
Haldia Oil Jetties - 3 Reverine jetties
Impounded Dock - 9 berths and 3 under construction
Haldia Barge Jetties - 2 Reverine Barge jetties for handling of oil  barges
Haldia anchorage for LASH Vessels

Haldia Dock Complex handled 20.224 million tons of cargo in 1998-99 which increased to 20.690 million tons in 1999-2000. By commissioning of third oil jetty at Haldia Dock complex the total annual capacity of POL crude handling by 3 jetties is now 16 million tons. In modernization plan two more berths will be constructed which will increase the handling capacity by another two million tons

Transport infrastructure

Surfaced roads/ 00 sq km: 50.7

Road length per 1000 km : 893

Durgapur Expressway 
The Project
The Kolkata Durgapur Expressway, which is a 65 km, two- lane stretch connecting Dankuni to Palsit was completed in 1999 and has the status of a National Highway. It provides a much shorter and faster route from Kolkata to Durgapur.

Kolkata – Durgapur Expressway had originally been designed as a high speed high capacity 6-lane facility starting from NH2 By-pass near Dankuni meeting with NH2 at Palsit. In 1975 Ministry of Surface Transport (MoST), GoI, declared Kolkata-Durgapur Expressway a National Highway. In 1986, Ministry of Surface Transport, Government of India (MoST) sanctioned the project as a two-lane expressway. It was proposed that toll charges would be levied on the vehicles using the expressway facility.

Some Features of the project:
The expressway has service road from km 5 to km 13 on both sides. 
There are eight at-grade intersections with State Roads, one road over-bridge and one underpass. 
Viability of this project on BOT lies in direct tolling. 

Panagarh – Moregam Road

This 150 km road project has been implemented. It involved improvement of State Highway from Panagarh on NH-2 to Moregram on NH-34. The work constituted widening of the existing single lane carriageway to two lanes with hard shoulder, strengthening existing pavement. This was done to take care of the projected traffic, improvement of geometric deficiencies, replacement/ rehabilitation of narrow and weak bridges, culverts etc., by-passing congested areas and replacing rail-road level – crossings by road over-bridges.

The project was financed by Asian Development Bank with a loan assistance of 80% of the cost of civil works and consultancy services of both international and domestic consultants.

Salient Features:
Length of the road 150 Km
Top formation width 12 m
Black Top 10 m
Major Bridges 3
Minor Bridges 15

Kona Expressway 

Since 1970 CMDA has taken up program for improving transport infrastructure within Kolkata with the linkages to areas of importance. Kona Expressway is one of them.

Features
The viability of Vidyasagar Setu depends quite an extent on the completion of 7.3 km long Kona Expressway beginning at the new bridge (at the western end of toll plaza) and ending on NH 6 at Nibra (Kona). When operational, this vital link would function as the arterial dispersal route for Vidyasagar Setu providing a far better alternative to both Andul Road and Makardah Road.

Urban Infrastructure

30 Mgd Water Supply Project In Haldia

Presently, the 20 MGD water treatment plant at Geonkhali, in Haldia, supplies water for industrial and domestic use to the Haldia Area. It takes raw water from river Rupnarayan/Hoogly and treats it.

With the new large industrial units that are coming up in the region, is it estimated that the current water supply will soon be inadequate to service all Haldia's water requirements.

The Project

To cater to growing demand for water, a new plant with a capacity of 30 MGD has been proposed by Haldia Development Authority (HDA), which shall increase the overall water treatment capacity from 20 MGD to 50 MGD.

Features 

95% of the water supply from the new plant is expected to be for industrial sector use.
Raw water source is River Hoogly on the banks of which Haldia is located.
The project is proposed to be implemented through private sector participation and financing.


Housing And Real Estate

Udayan Kolkata
Bengal Ambuja Housing Development Limited is a Joint Enterprise of the West Bengal Housing Board and Gujarat Ambuja Cement Limited, incorporated in 1993, to supplement the efforts of Housing Board to meet the housing demand in West Bengal particularly in urban areas. Udayan is their recently implemented housing project in Kolkata aimed at providing cost-effective yet comfortable housing to people.

The Project
It is a self-content project covering a 25.75 acre plot of land. It consists of three modules named "Utsarg", "Utsav" and "Udita" for the LIG, MIG and HIG categories respectively.
The prices of LIG (264 units of 345 sq. ft. each) and MIG (624 units of 625 sq. ft. each) categories are subsidised and fixed as per the direction of the West Bengal Housing Board between Rs. 1.10 — 1.25 lacs and between Rs. 3.00 — 3.30 lacs respectively. The HIG units are priced in the range of Rs. 1000—1300 per sq. ft.

Multi-faceted City Centre Project 

The  Rs 80 crore  Multi - faceted City Centre project, a unique concourse of shopping mall, cineplex, entertainment arena, food court, offices and residencies, is proposed at Salt Lake. The City Centre is spread over a sprawling 550,000 sq ft. The Centre is a project of the Bengal Ambuja Metro Development Limited project, a joint enterprise of the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the Gujarat Ambuja Cements Limited.

The construction will commence from Poila Baishakh and expected to be completed by 2003. It is also expected that city development will be faster with joint sector projects, implying more private sector involvement.

The City Centre would mainly comprise of following facilities
  • Residences 
  • Offices 
  • Shops 
  • Entertainment 
  • Food 
  • Amenities & services 
Residence facility would be available in the form of 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom units. Offices would be AC or Non AC, located at Tower or Block and vary in sizes of 1,000-2,000 sq ft, 2,000-3,000 sq ft, 3,000-5,000 sq ft and 5,000+ sq ft. These may be acquired on Ownership or Rental with deposit basis.

For Shopping, four types of shops are proposed
  • Independent store, 
  • Anchor Shops, 
  • Bazaar (non-AC), and 
  • Mall (AC) 
Independent stores would be available with or without AC facilities. This type of shops will be available in different sizes of 500-1,000 sq ft, 1,000 - 2,000 sq ft, 2,000-3,000 sq ft and 3,000-5,000 sq ft. The independent stores can be acquired on Ownership, Revenue sharing with deposit or Rental with deposit basis. 

Similarly, Anchor shops would also be available in following sizes: 10,000-20,000 sq ft, 20,000 - 30,000 sq ft, 30,000 - 50,000 sq ft and 50,000+ sq ft. These may also be acquired on Ownership, Revenue sharing with deposit or Rental with deposit basis.

Bazzar (non AC) would vary in shops of sizes 100-200 sq ft, 200-300 sq ft, 300-500 sq ft and 500-1,000 sq ft. Mall (AC) would vary in sizes of 1,000-2,000 sq ft, 2,000-3,000 sq ft, 3,000-5,000 sq ft and 5,000+ sq ft. Bazzar and Mall shops may also be acquired on Ownership, Revenue sharing with deposit or Rental with deposit basis

The Shops may be of following types

Grocery  Liquor 
Meat, poultry, fresh fish  Cured food 
Confectionery & backery  snackfood and beverage 
Menswear  Womenswear 
Kidswear  Sportswear 
Footwear  Leather products
Jute products  Designerwear and House appliances
Entertainment electronics Glass & china 
Wrought iron furniture  Pharmacy
Ayurvedic products Homeopathic products 
Optometrist & optician Dentistry
Consultant allergist  immunologist 
asthma specialist Cosmetics
Beauty treatment  Fitness and slimming 
Beauty parlour  Jewellery and ornaments 
Travel agencies Money changing 
Luggage  Camp and trek gear 
Cars Scooters & motorcycles
Camera and photography  Toys & games 
Party decor & supplies Musical instruments
Electronic gaggets Video
Music Creche
Books Magazines
Stationery Phones, mobiles, pagers
computer hardware, Computer software, Computer peripherals computer supplies
Computer and IT books ATM
PCO, copying, binding, laminating Pictureframing
Framing & gardening Tailoring
Bicycles  


For entertainment purpose Cineplex, Bowling alley, Beauty parlour, Video games arcade, Karaoke bar, Kid's play area etc are proposed. These facilities may be available in different sizes ranging from 1,000 - 2,000 sq ft, 2,000 - 3,000 sq ft and 3,000-5,000 sq ft and may be acquired on Ownership, Revenue-sharing with deposit or Rental with deposit basis.

For Food, Food court Kiosk and Restaurants are proposed. Food court Kiosk may vary in sizes of 50-100 sq ft, 100-200 sq ft and 200-300 sq ft. Similarly, Restaurants are also proposed in different sizes of 1,500-2,000 sq ft and 3,000-5,000 sq ft. These Food facilities may also be acquired on Ownership, Revenue-sharing with deposit or Rental with deposit basis.