Key Highlights
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Adani Ports’ Haldia Bulk Terminal on March 14, 2026.
- The facility is India’s first fully automated dry bulk terminal with a capacity of 4 MMTPA.
- The terminal is located at Haldia Dock Complex of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata.
- It includes a 2,000 tonne Railway Wagon Loading System and a 1.54 km dedicated rail line.
- The project has been developed under a 30-year concession through the DBFOT model.
- The terminal will support industrial supply chains in West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 14, 2026 inaugurated the Haldia Bulk Terminal (HBT) developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), marking the launch of India’s first fully automated dry bulk cargo handling facility. The terminal has been commissioned at the Haldia Dock Complex of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata, strengthening logistics infrastructure along India’s eastern maritime corridor.
The newly inaugurated terminal has an installed capacity of 4 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) and is designed to handle dry bulk cargo such as imported coal and other industrial raw materials. Built on the Hooghly River, the facility integrates advanced automation and direct rail evacuation systems aimed at improving cargo handling efficiency while reducing operational losses.
According to APSEZ, the project has been developed under a 30-year concession agreement using the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model through HDC Bulk Terminal Ltd. Construction began on July 14, 2023, and the project has now been commissioned within the planned construction timeline.
The terminal features advanced mechanised infrastructure, including a 2,000 tonne Railway Wagon Loading System (RWLS) and a 1.54 kilometre dedicated railway line, enabling direct transfer of cargo from ships to rail wagons. This system is expected to reduce port dwell time and streamline bulk cargo movement to industrial regions.
Additional infrastructure at the facility includes advanced conveyor systems, two stacker-cum-reclaimers for automated stockyard operations, refurbished jetty infrastructure, and two mobile harbour cranes designed to accelerate vessel discharge operations.
APSEZ stated that the terminal’s automation eliminates traditional jetty dumping and helps reduce cargo loss while supporting cleaner and safer port operations. The development is expected to strengthen supply chains for key industries including steel, aluminium and power generation across West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand.
India’s eastern coast accounts for nearly 60 percent of the country’s dry bulk imports, including commodities such as coal, bauxite and limestone. With improved rail connectivity and automation, the Haldia terminal is expected to reduce logistics costs and improve turnaround times for industries that depend on bulk cargo imports.
The project also aligns with the Sagarmala programme and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which aim to modernise India’s port infrastructure and develop integrated multimodal logistics networks across the country.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, part of the Adani Group, operates a large network of ports and logistics infrastructure across India. The company manages 15 ports and terminals across the west, south and east coasts, along with integrated logistics assets including multimodal logistics parks, warehousing facilities and marine fleets.