From Doro to Dock: Transformation of Haldia Port Complex

Abstract

In West Bengal an example of post-1947 industrialization is Haldia industrial zone that flourished in the verge of liberalisation and privatisation and this region was anticipated as one of the important centres of industrial resurgence in West Bengal. However, it was first developed as a river-port in late 1960s to reduce the burden of century old Calcutta port. This article is an attempt to investigate the genesis of Haldia port complex. It examines whether this port based urban industrial space was developed aiming at national requirement or to supplement the foreign interest and how far it changed the livelihood of local population.