KOLKATA, July 11: The Adani Group has partnered with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), to restore and beautify the historic Kumartuli Ghat, a significant step in preserving the city’s cultural and artistic heritage, officials said on Friday. The two entities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to redevelop the ghat, located along the Hooghly River, under SMPK’s ‘Swachhata’ initiative. The agreement marks a public-private partnership aimed at transforming the cultural landmark through heritage-compliant infrastructure upgrades, environmental sustainability, and civic responsibility. Kumartuli is widely known as Kolkata’s iconic clay modellers’ hub, where generations of artisans have sculpted Durga idols and other traditional figures, sustaining Bengal’s celebrated artistic traditions. The restoration project aims to make the ghat cleaner, safer, and more accessible to artisans, locals, and tourists.
“This is not just a restoration project, but a revival of Bengal’s artistic legacy,” said Rathendra Raman, Chairman of SMPK. He emphasised the importance of the ghat in the city’s socio-cultural fabric and said the collaboration would give a new lease of life to the neglected riverfront. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) will oversee the redevelopment, with design architects already engaged to plan the transformation. The development will remain confined to the port’s jurisdiction along the Kolkata riverfront, officials said. Subrat Tripathy, President of Business Development at APSEZ, said the company was honoured to be part of the initiative. “It was an honour to help renovate a place so sentimentally linked to Kolkata’s identity. This spot will be a source of pride for Kolkata as a tourist destination,” he said.

Once a vibrant riverfront and artisanal hub, Kumartuli Ghat has suffered from years of neglect, marked by riverbank erosion, poor waste management, and deteriorating infrastructure. Authorities said the redevelopment would address these issues, with a focus on preserving the area’s heritage character.

The project is expected to include upgraded public amenities, enhanced waste disposal systems, improved pathways, and lighting—designed to serve both functional and aesthetic purposes while supporting the needs of the artisan community.

The initiative aligns with broader efforts to revitalise Kolkata’s historic ghats and riverfronts, many of which are central to the city’s identity but have fallen into disrepair over time.