PM Modi Dedicates India's First Automated Dry-Bulk Cargo Terminal to Nation

Published: Mar 17, 2026 09:19

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[SMM Aluminum Express News] Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated India's first fully automated dry-bulk cargo terminal, the Haldia Bulk Terminal (HBT), to the nation on Saturday (March 2026). Developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) at the Haldia Dock Complex (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata), the facility has an annual handling capacity of 4 MMTPA.

Key features:
1. Full mechanisation and automated cargo handling
2. Direct rail connectivity via a 1.54 km dedicated rail line
3. 2,000-tonne Railway Wagon Loading System (RWLS) for seamless ship-to-train transfer

The eastern seaboard handles ~60% of India's dry-bulk imports (coal, bauxite, limestone), vital for steel, aluminium, and power sectors.

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