PM Modi highlights strategic importance of SMP Kolkata

KOLKATA : Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has underscored the strategic role of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (formerly Kolkata Port Trust) in strengthening India’s maritime trade infrastructure and enhancing the economic integration of eastern India.

During a key maritime infrastructure launch event in West Bengal, the Prime Minister emphasized that robust port, waterway, rail and multi-modal connectivity systems are essential for industrial growth and job creation across the region. He stated that without such integrated logistics infrastructure, neither industrial expansion nor meaningful employment generation can be achieved—highlighting the critical contribution of ports like Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port to achieving these national priorities.

PM Modi has also previously reiterated the historic significance of the port at its sesquicentennial celebrations, when he announced its renaming in honor of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee—describing the port as a symbol of India’s industrial, spiritual and self-sufficiency aspirations in the country’s march toward a “New India.”

His comments reflect the Government of India’s commitment to modernizing maritime infrastructure, expanding cargo handling capacities, and positioning eastern ports as important nodes in India’s global trade network.