Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata: the only riverine port of the country

State Focus West Bengal Economy Economy & Banking Polity & Governance

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata: the only riverine port of the country

Background

The Kolkata Port is the first Major Port as well as the only riverine port of the country.
It came to be governed by a Trust on 17th October, 1870, on appointment of the Commissioners for Improvement of the Port of Calcutta as per Act V of 1870.
On 3 June 2020 the Union Cabinet gave its approval to rename Kolkata Port as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, after the Board of Trustees of Kolkata Port Trust had passed a resolution to that effect on 25th February, 2020.
Several Indian major ports have been renamed in this way: Nhava Sheva Port Trust was renamed as Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in the year 1989.
Tuticorin Port Trust was renamed as V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust in 2011.
Kandla Port Trust was renamed as Deendayal Port in 2017.

Present name: Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata Governed by a Trust from: 17th October, 1870 Enabling Act: Act V of 1870 Union Cabinet approval for renaming: 3 June 2020 Distinction: First Major Port and only riverine port of the country

Why it matters for exams: The renamed major ports are a favourite matching set, and Kolkata is the one port an examiner can describe as both the first major port and the only riverine port.

Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank

14 October 2026 Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India

In plain words

Major Port — A port of India administered under central law rather than by the state government.

Riverine port — A port built on a river rather than on the open coast, so ships must sail upstream to reach it.