Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on March 14 commissioned the Haldia Bulk Terminal (HBT), India’s first fully automated dry bulk facility, and dedicated it to the nation during his vist to West Bengal. Developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) within the Haldia Dock Complex of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, the terminal boasts an annual capacity of 4 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) for handling imported coal and other dry bulk commodities.
It is a fully automated facility on the Hooghly River with direct rail connections.
A new chapter begins on the Hooghly.
— Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (@Adaniports) March 14, 2026
Today, the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji commissioned the Haldia Bulk Terminal and dedicated it to the nation — 🇮🇳India’s first fully automated dry bulk terminal. pic.twitter.com/VQ5g08v6tm
Built under a 30-year Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) concession, construction began on 14 July 2023 and was completed on schedule. The facility features advanced automation, including a 2,000 tonnes per hour Railway Wagon Loading System, a 1.54 km dedicated railway line for direct ship-to-rail transfer, advanced conveyor systems, two stacker-cum-reclaimers, and two mobile harbour cranes.
This eliminates manual loading, minimises cargo loss, reduces port dwell time, and lowers logistics costs for steel, aluminium, and power industries in West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand. APSEZ Whole-time Director & CEO Ashwani Gupta described it as a benchmark for efficient, sustainable operations on India’s eastern seaboard, aligning with the Sagarmala programme and PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
