Farakka Port (Bengali: ফারাক্কা বন্দর)or Farakka Floating Terminal is one of the minor river ports in West Bengal. This river port is a small river port. It is located near Farakka town of Murshidabad district. Mainly coal is brought from Indonesia by this port. First coal was brought to Haldia Port by big ships. After that, the coal was transported to Farakka port by the barge.[2][3][4] The port carries 3 lakhs tons or 0.3 million tons coal of per year. The water level of the port is about 3.5 meters (11 feet). Currently, Bangladesh has permission to use the Farakka Port as per the agreement for shipping.[5]

Farakka Port
ফারাক্কা বন্দর
Barrage unloading in Farakka port
Map
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Location
Country India
LocationFarakka, Mushidabad, West Bengal
Details
Operated byInland Waterways Authority of India
Owned byGovernment of India
Type of harbourInland port
No. of berths2
Depth3.5 metres (11 ft)
Maine tredCoal,Coking coal
Statistics
Annual cargo tonnage14 lakh tons (1.4 million tons) [2014-15][1]

The port is used occasionally for river cruise stops.[6]

Terminal

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The floating terminal built on the Farakka port is 4800 square meters in size. It is designed for coal transport. The Farakka Terminal has been built at Feeder Canal. This terminal has been built by the International Water Transport Corporation. Jindal group transported coal to this terminal or port. Here, the small ship or barge coal of 150 tons capacity marshalled.

 
Coal transport Map from Indonesia to Farakka Port

However, the port's terminal is useful for navigating vessels of 1500 to 2000 tonnes of DWT power. The navigability of the waterway will increase rapidly during the year if the water supply of the port increases rapidly. When the port and National Waterway 1 are fully operational, the port has a plan to transport 9 million tons of coal.

Problem

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The biggest problem of the port is the water level decrease in the feeder canal in the river even in the Bhagirati river. In the dry season, the depth of the river and the canal further decreases. As a result, cost-free dredging is needed. Currently, National Waterway 1 authorities are trying to protect the water level from Haldia Port to Farakka port 3.5 meters (11 ft).[7][8]

References

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  1. ^ "খরচ-ঝঞ্ঝাট কমিয়ে নদীপথই হিট". eisamay.indiatimes.com. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Jindal ITF, Sula Shipping join for NTPC-Farakka project".
  3. ^ "তৈরি ৩ জেটি আর রেলে নয়, জলপথে কয়লা পৌঁছবে ফরাক্কায়". আনন্দবাজার প্রত্রিকা. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  4. ^ "জলপথে কলকাতা-ফারাক্কা পণ্য পরিবহণ শুরু জিন্দলদের হাতে".[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "ভারতের ফারাক্কা ও ব্যান্ডেল বন্দর ব্যবহার করতে চায় বাংলাদেশ". Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  6. ^ Tripathi, Shikha (23 April 2024). "Explored West Bengal By Road? Now Uncover Its Secret Shores By Boat!: Skipping the winding roads of West Bengal for a more laidback affair, a traveller explores the region's cultural tapestry on a boat". Travel Leisure India. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  7. ^ "নাব্যতা হারিয়েছে ভাগীরথী, ফাঁসল বার্জ". আনন্দবাজার প্রত্রিকা. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  8. ^ "রাজ্যে ১০০০ কোটি টাকা লগ্নি অভ্যন্তরীণ জলপথ পরিবহন দপ্তরের।". এবেলা. Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
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24°48′05″N 87°55′18″E / 24.8015°N 87.9218°E / 24.8015; 87.9218