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The Central government is planning a major expansion of border trade infrastructure in West Bengal, with proposals for seven to eight new international land ports along the borders with Bangladesh and Nepal. The move is aimed at facilitating smoother movement of both cargo and passengers while unlocking additional trade opportunities with neighbouring countries.
The proposed facilities will be developed by the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. At present, Petrapole—the country's busiest land port located near Bongaon on the India-Bangladesh border—remains West Bengal's only operational international land port.
Officials believe that additional border infrastructure could significantly improve logistics efficiency in eastern India, particularly as trade volumes with neighbouring nations continue to grow. Several strategic locations have already been identified for development, including Panitanki on the India-Nepal border, Ghojadanga in North 24 Parganas, Hili in Dinajpur and Birpara in Alipurduar, among others.
Many of these locations currently handle trade through existing land customs stations. However, authorities are looking to upgrade them into fully integrated land ports equipped with modern facilities capable of supporting larger cargo volumes and streamlined passenger movement.
According to LPAI Chairman Jayant Singh, the authority is working on plans to establish multiple new land ports across the state. Speaking on the sidelines of an industry event in Kolkata, he indicated that each project would typically require around 50 acres of land situated directly along the international border.
Land acquisition has emerged as one of the primary challenges slowing the rollout of these projects. While infrastructure plans have been under consideration for some time, securing suitable land parcels near the border has proven difficult. Officials are hopeful that closer coordination between state and central authorities will help address these hurdles and accelerate project implementation.
Unlike conventional border checkpoints, modern land ports function as integrated trade and transit hubs. They bring together cargo handling facilities, warehousing infrastructure, truck parking zones, customs clearance, immigration services, cold storage units and security operations under a single framework. Such facilities are designed to reduce congestion, improve turnaround times and enhance the overall efficiency of cross-border trade.
The proposed projects in West Bengal form part of a much larger national strategy. The Centre is evaluating plans to develop 74 additional land ports across India, significantly expanding the country's border trade network beyond the 15 facilities currently in operation.
The government's focus on land-port infrastructure comes at a time when trade with neighbouring countries is gaining momentum. Official estimates show that India's trade with neighbouring nations amounted to ₹2.27 lakh crore, of which nearly ₹82,844 crore was routed through existing land ports. Authorities also believe that India's land borders hold substantial untapped potential, with opportunities for additional trade worth more than ₹4.44 lakh crore.
With their strategic location and proximity to key regional markets, the proposed land ports in West Bengal are expected to play an important role in strengthening supply chains, improving trade connectivity and supporting economic integration across South Asia in the years ahead.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated development projects and laid foundation stones for infrastructure initiatives worth more than ₹13,000 crore across Tamil Nadu, highlighting the state’s strategic role in strengthening India’s maritime logistics, transport connectivity and industrial growth. The announcements, made in Chennai on October 11, 2026, include port infrastructure upgrades, road and railway projects, and urban transport development. A key highlight was the proposed transformation of V O Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Thoothukudi into a world-class mega container and green energy hub, backed by an investment of approximately ₹17,000 crore. The planned development is intended to enhance the port’s capacity to handle ultra-large container vessels, strengthen maritime connectivity and position Tamil Nadu as a more competitive gateway for international trade. VOC Port Expansion to Strengthen Maritime Logistics The proposed mega container hub at VOC Port is expected to support India’s ambitions to expand its container-handling capabilities and improve integration with global shipping networks. Greater capacity for large vessels could help strengthen trade connectivity, improve operational efficiency and support cargo movement through southern India. The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of modernising port infrastructure to enable the shipping sector to grow. He also highlighted improvements in port efficiency, noting that reduced vessel turnaround times have helped Indian goods reach international markets faster. Alongside the long-term expansion plan, projects worth ₹517.19 crore were included for a container terminal at VOC Port. The terminal forms part of eight projects at the port with a combined investment of ₹753.68 crore. Separately, port infrastructure works worth ₹640 crore at Chennai and Kamarajar ports are aimed at expanding cargo-handling capacity and strengthening logistics infrastructure. The proposed ₹17,000-crore VOC Port transformation is a strategic development distinct from the projects worth over ₹13,000 crore launched during the Chennai visit. Connectivity and Infrastructure Development The wider investment programme spans ports, highways, railways, petroleum infrastructure, urban transport and scientific research. Among the major initiatives, Modi inaugurated the Poonamallee–Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Phase II, developed at a cost of approximately ₹4,900 crore. The new section is expected to improve connectivity across western Chennai and support smoother urban mobility. Road and railway infrastructure projects are also intended to strengthen regional connectivity, facilitate passenger and freight movement, and support industrial activity across Tamil Nadu. Supporting Trade, Jobs and Economic Growth The infrastructure push reflects the importance of coordinated investment across transport modes to improve logistics efficiency and economic competitiveness. Modern ports, supported by efficient road and rail links, can help reduce bottlenecks, improve cargo evacuation and connect manufacturing centres with domestic and international markets. The VOC Port mega container and green energy hub proposal also aligns with the broader ambition to strengthen India’s maritime capabilities while advancing cleaner energy infrastructure. Its long-term impact will depend on project execution, capacity creation and effective integration with inland logistics networks. Together, the announced initiatives are expected to support employment generation, improve connectivity and reinforce Tamil Nadu’s position as an important industrial and logistics centre. For India’s supply chain sector, the port investments are particularly significant as the country seeks to expand trade capacity and build more efficient links with global markets. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Dhamra Port in Odisha, operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), has transitioned its entire electricity consumption to renewable power, making it India’s first large-scale private multi-cargo port to operate fully on renewable electricity. The transition, effective from August 2026, forms part of APSEZ’s long-term Net-Zero strategy. The port currently meets more than 90 lakh units of monthly electricity demand through renewable sources, with annualised renewable power consumption exceeding 108 gigawatt-hours (GWh). Renewable electricity now supports its round-the-clock operations, including cargo handling, storage, rail-linked activities and other critical port infrastructure. Dhamra’s renewable electricity supply is structured through a combination of captive generation, third-party access and green-power procurement under Odisha’s regulatory framework. Around 25–30% of its renewable power comes from APSEZ’s captive hybrid power plant at Khavda in Gujarat, while another 10–15% is sourced through third-party access. The remaining requirement is met through a Green Consumer arrangement with Odisha’s distribution utility. The shift is expected to reduce emissions associated with purchased electricity while improving the environmental performance of the port’s energy-intensive operations. It also strengthens Dhamra’s position as a major logistics infrastructure asset supporting the decarbonisation of India’s maritime and supply chain ecosystem. Located on Odisha’s coast between Haldia and Paradip, Dhamra is one of eastern India’s key deep-draft ports. It has an installed cargo-handling capacity of 60 million tonnes (MT) and handled 48.8 MT of cargo during the financial year ended March 2026. The port has six dry-cargo berths, rapid-loading silos, wagon tipplers, track hoppers, mechanised storage yards and jetty equipment. Additionally, the port is also connected by rail and road with mineral-rich hinterlands across Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal, making it an important gateway for the region’s industrial and bulk cargo flows. Its renewable electricity transition places the port among large-scale logistics and industrial facilities increasingly adopting cleaner energy to lower operational emissions and advance long-term decarbonisation goals. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
India is stepping up efforts to establish itself as a global hub for ship ownership, leasing and maritime finance, with GIFT City in Gujarat emerging as a key platform for developing an integrated maritime financial ecosystem. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal outlined the government’s ambition at the India Ship Leasing and Financing Summit held at GIFT City, Gandhinagar. Organised by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the summit brought together shipowners, lessors, charterers, financiers, policymakers and other maritime stakeholders. Sonowal said the objective is to build a comprehensive ecosystem covering ship ownership, leasing, financing, insurance, brokering and allied services. “This gathering marks a significant milestone in our collective journey to position India, and particularly GIFT City, as a global maritime hub for a comprehensive maritime value chain ecosystem, encompassing ship leasing, owning, financing, insurance, brokering and other ancillary services,” Sonowal said. India’s ship-leasing ecosystem has already begun expanding. According to the Minister, 38 ship lessors are currently registered in the country, collectively leasing 43 vessels with total leasing capacity exceeding 2.99 million DWT. Of these, 24 vessels fly the Indian flag. Meanwhile, 41 domestic and international banks operating in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) have extended nearly USD 60.1 million in funding to ship-leasing entities. Sonowal also highlighted policy reforms designed to improve the competitiveness of Indian shipping. These include exemption from licensing requirements under the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, for foreign vessels operating on charter and permission for GIFT IFSC-based shipping companies to own foreign-flag vessels. “More fundamentally, it marks a shift in how we count our fleet, from tonnage that flies our flag to tonnage that we own and control. PM Narendra Modi's dynamic leadership has carried GIFT City from thought to fruition, and it is now poised to be the launchpad for India's next wave of maritime growth” The government is also backing the maritime sector through substantial financial measures. The ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund is expected to catalyse investments of up to ₹1.5 lakh crore by 2030, while the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) 2.0 has a revised outlay of ₹24,736 crore, extended to 2036. These initiatives are aimed at strengthening domestic shipbuilding, vessel ownership and the wider maritime ecosystem. The initiatives align with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which seek to expand India’s fleet, strengthen port capacity and coastal shipping, and position the country among the world’s top five shipbuilding nations. Sonowal also highlighted India’s growing role in ship recycling, with its share of global ship-recycling tonnage rising from 30.1% in 2024 to 35.4% in 2025. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
