The origin and growth of Calcutta, the first city in the country, is intimately connected with the development of Calcutta Port. It would be true to say that the city grew out of the port. It had its begining in the 17th Century when the rich and profitable trade with Bengal attracted foreign advertures. It was Job Charnock, the English Agent of the East India Company who chose the present site of Calcutta, 125 miles from the sea, and built the English Settlement here around 1690 with the permission of the then Moghul Emperor, Aurangzeb.

The port and the city of Calcutta grew out of these settlements along the left bank of River Hoogly. However, the transition of Calcutta into a modern port really began in the second half of the last century. It is new the premier port on the Eastern Coast of the country handling the largest volume of dry cargo. The port commands a vast hinterland of about half a millon square miles, comprising the States of WestBengal, Assam, Bihar,Orissa, almost the whole of uttar Pradesh, a part of Madhya Pradesh and also the neighbouring countries of Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. This region is rich in agricultural, mineral and industrial resources. The port of Calcutta which is sited 126 nautical miles away from the sea, presents difficult navigational problems. There are several sand bars and sharp bends in the river which ships have to negotiate. The channel is dredged sonstantly and is well marked with numerous navigational aids to facilitate navigation-both by day and night. Pilotage of ships on this river is compulsory.

The affairs of the port are managed by a statutory body constituted under the terms of Act V of 1870, later consolidated under the Calcutta Port Act, 1890, and known as "The Commissioners for the Port of Calcutta". It is composed of 24 official and non-official members reprenting the principal chambers of commerce in the city of Calcutta, customs, railways, Corporation of Calcutta, Howrah Muncipality, the Goverment of West Bengal, Indian Steamship Owner's Association and the labour employed in the Port. The Chairmanand the Deputy Chairman are appointed by the Goverment of India. The chairman is the executive head of the Commission. In the early years, the ships were anchored in the river and there were no proper shore facilities for them to come alongside for loading or dischaging their cargo. Between the years 1850 and 1870, to meet the need of shipping, four screw pile jetties with cranes and sheds were constructed.

The modern Port of Calcutts with its extensive facilities grew out of this humble beginning. At present, it provides 34 alongside berths in the kidderpore Dock and there exists further provision for 46 ships to work in the river side moorings. There are also eight jetties available at Budge Budge, 11 miles below Calcutta for handling of oil. In addition, there are five Dry Docks for ship repairs in the Port. All these developments took plavce over a period of last hundred years. The final phase of port development started after Independence. The total expenditure on development incurred during the First, Second and the Third Five-Year Plan periods amounts to Rs. 46 crores.

As a result, the executionof these development plans, the Port is now equipped to handle about 14 millon tonnes of cargo every year. The estimated outlay on pronjects included in the Fourth Five-Year Plan for the development of the Port is of the order of Rs.25 crores. The number of vessels which enter and leave this port in a year is round about 1800. About 40% of the total value of imports into the country pass through this port. Exports roughly account for 5 million tonnes, and imports 6 million tonnes. The revenue of the Port new amounts to about Rs.25 crores per years. The Port provides about 48 lakhs square feet of ware housing accommodation for storage of cargo by the users of the Port. Besides, the Port has its own railway system with a track mileage of 350 kilometers and route mileage of 36 kilometers. The Port of Calcutta lik any other modern international port, has had to face the challenge thrown up by the increasing size of ships, particularlytankers and bulk carriers.

It is necessary to provide deep draught berths for such ship and also fast machanical equipment for loading and unloading them. The Calcutta Port Commissioners have accordingly undertaken the Haldia Dock Project at Haldia about 56 miles down-stream of Calcutta. This is being developed as a subsidiary port of Calcutta. Thus, while the first century of the Calcutta Port Commissioners' life marks the developmentand growth of the Port of Calcutta from four screw pile jetties into a vast modern port complex, the second century is expected to usher in an era of far-freater prosperity.

The Posts and Telegraphs Deparment is proud to be associated with such a saga of growth and phenomenal development by issue of a special commemorative stamp on the occassion of the centenary of Calcutta Port Commissioners.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India