Strategic Dialogue on Waterways and Logistics: (Closed-Door Session).

On 19th June 2025, Sanjay Gupta from Dynovia Solutions LLP was honored to participate in an exclusive, closed-door interaction with Mr. Rathendra Raman, Chairman of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), held at the prestigious SMPK Boardroom.

The interaction was facilitated by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Eastern Region Logistics Subcommittee, under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Ashutosh Jaiswal, Chairman of the Subcommittee and CEO & Director of Century Infra Ltd & Century Ports Ltd. The session brought together a select group of thought leaders and logistics professionals committed to shaping the future of Eastern India’s logistics and trade ecosystem.

The Role of SMPK in Eastern India’s Economic Growth

As the oldest operating port in India, SMPK continues to play a pivotal role in Eastern India’s logistics and trade landscape. It serves as a vital trade gateway (both for domestic and international), enabling seamless multimodal connectivity—spanning road, rail, and inland waterways—and anchoring regional economic development. The port’s strategic location and potential for leveraging riverine logistics make it central to the region’s ambitions for becoming a logistics hub.

Key Discussion Points

The deliberations focused on critical areas such as:

• Enhancing inland waterway connectivity to decongest road transport and promote greener cargo movement.
• Increasing port utilization rates through technological upgrades, streamlined cargo handling systems, and better stakeholder coordination.
• Improving hinterland connectivity to serve the growing demands of industrial corridors in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar and neighbouring countries.
• Addressing regulatory, operational, and infrastructure bottlenecks that currently hinder optimal port operations.

Dynovia Solutions’ Thought Leadership

Sanjay Gupta of Dynovia Solutions brought in practical insights from ground-level logistics operations, drawing from his corporate experience in supply chain integration and infrastructure planning. His inputs focused on:

• The need for synchronized multimodal logistics planning, especially involving private terminals and ICDs (Inland Container Depots).
• Bridging the digital gap between port systems and last-mile logistics players for real-time cargo visibility.
• Encouraging PPP models for waterway infrastructure development and storage facilities along the Hooghly river to support bulk and containerized cargo.

His suggestions were well-received and added a valuable practitioner’s perspective to the policy-oriented dialogue.

The Road Ahead

This engagement marks an important milestone in public-private collaboration to unlock the full potential of Eastern India’s ports and waterways. With CII acting as a bridge between industry and government, and proactive leadership from SMPK, initiatives such as these will pave the way for smarter, greener, and more resilient logistics networks.

About Dynovia Solutions LLP:
Dynovia Solutions is a forward-thinking consulting firm specializing in logistics transformation, training programs, and strategic supply chain advisory for MSMEs and large enterprises alike. With a strong focus on innovation, policy advocacy, and ground execution, Dynovia continues to contribute meaningfully to India’s evolving logistics ecosystem.