Port and Development: A Study of Calcutta Port in India By Sachinandan Sau

Book Description

About the Book
Economic Infrastructure and Port Development: A Case Study of Calcutta Port explores the intricate relationship between port infrastructure and socio-economic development. This comprehensive analysis delves into the challenges faced in port development, using Calcutta Port as a pivotal case study. The book examines how the port's decline in cargo handling is linked not only to physical constraints—such as draft deficiencies and low productivity—but also to deeper economic issues like undiversified growth in its hinterland and transportation policy challenges.

Drawing from over a decade and a half of extensive research, this revised and updated edition expands on the author's original Ph.D. dissertation, providing valuable insights into the economic development of the Calcutta-Haldia region and offering policy recommendations for revitalizing the port's role in regional growth.

About the Author

Sachinandan Sau is a Reader in Economics at the Department of Economics with Rural Development, Vidyasagar University. He holds Master's, M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in Economics from the University of Calcutta. With experience as a lecturer and a visiting fellow at the Centre for Urban Economic Studies, Sau has authored numerous research articles and papers presented at national and international conferences. He is also the founder Managing Editor of the Economic Development Review, now known as the Vidyasagar University Journal of Economics. His expertise lies in the interplay between economic infrastructure and development.

Preface

Port infrastructure is a critical area of focus in economic development, yet literature on this topic remains underdeveloped. The present work aims to fill this gap, evolving from a Ph.D. thesis on Haldia Port into a broader examination of the dynamic relationship between ports and economic growth. This study emphasizes the need for analytical, empirical work to better understand the impact of ports on regional and national development.

Introduction

Transport has always been integral to human evolution. As Kipling noted, "Transport is civilization." In ancient times, water transport through ports was vital for trade. While the importance of ports may seem diminished in the modern age—thanks to the rise of roads, railways, and airways—they continue to handle the bulk of global trade, especially in bulk cargo.

A port is more than just a physical location; it serves as a crucial economic infrastructure that facilitates the transition from land to water transport. Derived from the Latin word portus, meaning "gateway," a port represents a crucial juncture for trade and communication, serving as a complex system that links various transport modes and acts as a hub for the exchange of goods, ideas, and people.