Country India District South 24 Parganas Lok Sabha constituency Mathurapur (SC) Elevation 4 m Local time Sunday 3:46 AM | State West Bengal Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Vidhan Sabha constituency Kulpi Population 2,000 (2011) | |
 | ||
Weather 24°C, Wind SW at 6 km/h, 93% Humidity | ||
Kulpi is a port town, located in Kulpi CD Block in South 24 Parganas district of the Indian state of West Bengal, about 78 km south of Kolkata and about 25 km from Diamond Harbour, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly river. It is the site of the proposed port-cum-special economic zone. It is on NH 117 and is 72 km from Sealdah on the Sealdah-Lakshikantapur-Kakdwip-Namkhana track of Eastern Railway.
Contents
Map of Kulpi, West Bengal 743351
Geography
Kulpi is located at 22.08°N 88.24°E / 22.08; 88.24. It has an average elevation of 4 m (13 ft).
Demographics
As per 2011 Census of India Kulpi had a total population of 2,000, of which 982 (49%) were males and 1,018 (51%) were females. Population below 6 years was 192. The total number of literates in Kulpi was 1,478 (81.75 % of the population over 6 years).
Transport
SH 1 terminates at its junction with NH 12 at Kulpi.
Port-cum-industrial complex
Comprehensively master-planned, the Kulpi Economic Zone will combine modern all weather port facilities, environment-friendly ship breaking yard, and an industrial park in a single integrated hub. The estimated project costs are:
- Rs. 455 crore (USD 104.6 million) for the port facilities
- Rs. 430 crore (USD 98.8 million) for the industrial park
- Rs. 40 crore (USD 9.2 million) for the ship breaking complex, making it a total of Rs. 925 crore (US$212.6 million) for the entire project.
Dubai-based DP World, world’s third largest port operator, took over the greenfield Kulpi Port project as part of its acquisition of P&O in February 2006. The first phase will have a 450-metre quay. The second phase will add 450 metres of quay. DP World's partners in Kulpi Port are Indian firm MKJ Enterprises and the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC).
Sultan Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World, has reaffirmed commitment to Kulpi Port. He said that Dubai World was committed to the Indian state of West Bengal's development and to being involved long term in the progress of the important Indian economy as part of its global growth strategy.
The construction of the minor port in South 24 Parganas will mean that 150,000 people living in 90 villages will face eviction, according to the Committee for protection of residential and farm land. There are more than 40 brick kilns, employing more than 18,000 people, spread over 60,000 bigha area. Besides, there are offices, a few thousand shops, cottage industries and small factories which will also face eviction. There are six gram panchayats in the area where the port is proposed to be set up. Most of the people of this area are agriculturists.
In January 2014,the Government of West Bengal gave its clearance for the development of a ship-breaking yard.