Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), the oldest operational Major Port in India, received the Maritime Excellence Award in the Heritage Category during India Maritime Week 2025. This accolade recognizes SMPK’s significant contributions to the country’s maritime development and its rich cultural history.
Despite challenges such as a long and shallow navigation channel along the River Hooghly, SMPK has consistently performed well. Following an impressive performance in 2024-25, the port achieved the highest cargo traffic among all 12 Major Ports in India during the first quarter of 2025-26. From April to June 2025, it managed 17.186 million metric tonnes of cargo across its facilities in Kolkata and Haldia, marking a 21.21% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
The award was presented by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, alongside Minister of State Shantanu Thakur and SMPK officials, including Chairperson Rathendra Raman and Deputy Chairperson Samrat Rahi. A senior SMPK official emphasized that this recognition celebrates the port’s 155 years of service, highlighting its evolution from a historic maritime gateway to a vital hub for trade and economic development in the region. SMPK includes the Kolkata Dock System and the Haldia Dock Complex, supported by extensive landholdings where various port-related industries have flourished.
