The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), has initiated a significant renovation of the iconic Bascule Bridge at the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) to enhance cargo movement efficiency and safety. This renovation project, valued at Rs 117.54 crore, aims to modernize the bridge, originally built in 1966 by the Austrian Firm, Waagner-Biro Bridge Systems AG. The bridge, a double-leaf rolling structure, facilitates the passage of cargo ships between Kidderpore Dock-I and Dock-II.
The renovation will ensure seamless traffic flow between the Garden Reach-Metiabruz area and the city. It involves upgrading the bridge’s 1,640-tonne steel structure and its complex electro-mechanical systems, including hydraulic gears and rack and pinion arrangements. Recognizing the strategic importance of this project, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India, has allocated Rs 40 crore under the Sagarmala Scheme.
SMPK has collaborated with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for the project’s completion and awarded the work to M/s H & H Fressinet, Mumbai, through a competitive tender process. Rathendra Raman, SMPK chairman, emphasized the bridge’s significance in the port’s logistics network. He highlighted that the renovation not only preserves a historic landmark but also enhances port operations’ safety and efficiency. The project aims to maintain Kolkata as a reliable gateway for maritime trade and meet the city’s transit requirements.
Only three such bridges exist in India, with Kolkata hosting one and the other two located in Mumbai and Tamil Nadu. The renovation project is expected to conclude by May 2027.
