Kolkata Port plans tunnel under Hooghly River Breakthrough

Kolkata Port is planning to construct an underground tunnel beneath the Hooghly River to alleviate congestion in the state capital. The port is also considering installing a floating crane at Diamond Harbour and developing the first multi-modal logistics park in Kolkata. Talks with a consultant are underway, and a study report is expected in the coming months. The port is also constructing a Roero jetty on the Howrah side of the Hooghly River. The much-anticipated tunnel project under the Hooghly River, championed by the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (formerly Kolkata Port Trust), has surged into the spotlight with a significant breakthrough: the appointment of Rodic Consultants to spearhead a comprehensive techno-feasibility study.

This moment marks a pivotal shift from conceptual ambition to actionable planning, indicating that Kolkata’s infrastructure vision is inching closer to reality Historically, the idea of an underwater tunnel emerged from the pressing need to alleviate traffic snarls caused by heavy container trucks creeping through Garden Reach Circular Road, Kidder pore Road, Hastings, and over the Vidyasagar Satu (Tunnel Landmark) These arteries not only suffer congestion but also choke air quality and strain the urban fabric. Inspired by the successful East–West Metro tunnel India’s first under-river metro journey the port authority sees a clear path to a similar engineering feat dedicated to freight movement

The proposed tunnel, potentially backed by the state government or the municipal corporation, would offer a seamless connection between port terminals on the Kolkata bank and the national highways grid across the Hooghly. The feasibility study will explore not only the technical and financial contours of the tunnel but alternative solutions such as aerial flyovers or Ro-Ro ferry systems to bypass city roads According to tunnelbuilder.com, Rodic Consultants has been tasked with producing a report in 7–8 months. The projected tunnel includes not only the underground passage but also a surface bridge component connecting directly to major highways, with an estimated cost around ₹2,000 crore.

This ambitious price tag underscores the scale of investment needed but also reflects the significant returns in easing congestion and reducing urban truck traffic A deeper look into the project’s context reveals a broader modernization agenda. Beyond the tunnel, Kolkata Port is advancing multiple infrastructure initiatives: these include deploying floating cranes at Diamond Harbour, developing multimodal logistics parks, enhancing roadway access, and expanding freight corridors toward Dankuni and NH-116. These projects collectively aim to build an integrated cargo ecosystem that leverages land, water, and rail synergistically It’s also worth noting the historical evolution of underwater tunnels in Kolkata’s engineering history. The CESC Tunnel, completed in 1931.

Stands as Asia’s first underwater tunnel, built simply for electric power transmission beneath the Hooghly River and using manual excavation techniques and rudimentary materials such as cast-iron rings This legacy illustrates that engineering under the Hooghly is not a new challenge but it is a challenge that modern technology and logistics needs now demand be revaluated and expanded upon (Port Plans) The successful completion of an under-river metro tunnel first trailed in April 2023 and inaugurated for commercial use by March 2024 demonstrated not only technical viability but also public acceptance of such infrastructure. That project, which spans a 4.8-kilometer stretch and sits between 30 and 38 meters beneath the ground.

Utilized advanced German-manufactured TBMs with submarine-like safety features, and set the stage for the port’s own aspirations In the Wings of Public Sentiment, Reddit discussion captured the local anticipation and hopes around the tunnel: “Hope it eases traffic of trucks from port to national highway without stressing the city and 2nd bridge.” Another user highlighted its potential to “divert all that traffic through the tunnel, good for both the trucks as well as common masses. Such remarks underline the public hunger for infrastructure that eases daily life and urban congestion.