The Haldia terminal in West Bengal will be managed by IRC Natural Resources, which won the bid with a ₹105.03-per-tonne royalty to IWAI.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has formally handed over the Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal (MMT) to IRC Natural Resources, marking a key milestone in the government’s push to strengthen inland waterway infrastructure and promote multimodal logistics through public-private partnership (PPP).
Developed by IWAI with financial and technical support from the World Bank, the Haldia MMT in West Bengal has a cargo handling capacity of 3.08 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). The terminal was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13. Strategically located and connected to National Highway 41, it is also slated to receive rail connectivity, further enhancing its multimodal integration.
To ensure sustained and efficient operations, IWAI adopted a PPP model on an equip, operate and transfer (EOT) basis. The concessionaire was selected through an open bidding process for operation and maintenance of the terminal over ten years, extendable by another five years. IRC Natural Resources—with interests in contract mining, mineral trading, and logistics services—emerged as the highest bidder, quoting a royalty of ₹105.03 per metric tonne of cargo handled, payable to IWAI.
The operationalisation of Haldia MMT is expected to significantly boost cargo movement through inland waterways, offering a cost-effective, environmentally friendly and faster alternative for transporting goods, particularly to the Northeastern states and Bangladesh.
This development aligns with the government’s vision to promote inland water transport as a sustainable and efficient logistics mode under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP). The project aims to enhance the capacity of the 1,390 km stretch of National Waterway-1 on the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system, which traverses Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Under JMVP, IWAI has undertaken key developmental works, including fairway maintenance, construction of multi-modal and inter-modal terminals, modern navigational locks, and installation of over 60 jetties to support and benefit riverine communities.