The Union Cabinet has approved the renaming of Kolkata Port as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, after the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was an eminent jurist, academician, thinker, leader of the masses, and a front-runner in national integration, dreamer of Bengal’s development, the inspiration for industrialization.
The Kolkata Port is the first Major Port and the only riverine port of the country. The port features at Serial Number 1 in The First Schedule, Part I-Major Ports of the Indian Ports Act, 1908.
It is governed by the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. Kolkata Port has been India’s gateway to trade, commerce, and economic development.
The port has witnessed historic events including India’s struggle for independence, World Wars l & II, and socio-cultural changes taking place in the country, especially in Eastern India.
Generally, the Major Ports in India are named after the city or the town in which they are situated. Some ports have been re-named after great national leaders in the past. Few renamed ports are listed below:
Nhava Sheva Port Trust was renamed as Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust by the Government in the year 1989
Tuticorin Port Trust was renamed as V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust in the year 2011.
Ennore Port Limited has been re-named as Kamarajar Port Limited in the honour of Shri K Kamarajar, eminent freedom fighter and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
