MHA names Haldia as 41st immigration seaport

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has added Haldia Seaport in West Bengal to the list of official immigration checkpoints, making it the 41st such facility along India’s coast.

A notification released on June 22, 2026, updated the earlier order from September 1, 2025, under Section 4 of the Immigration and. This update adds “41 Haldia (West Bengal)” to Category II (seaports) on the official list. It comes after three Gujarat ports, Dahej, Sikka, and Tuna Tekra, were added in May 2026, showing that India’s maritime immigration system is being regularly updated.

Haldia Dock Complex, also known as Haldia Port, is a major deep-water port on the Hooghly River in Purba Medinipur district, about 120 km southwest of Kolkata. The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port manages it and serves as a primary entry point for bulk, liquid, and container cargo to eastern and northeastern India, as well as to Nepal and Bhutan.

The port plays an important role in the Haldia region’s industry, handling petroleum products, chemicals, fertilisers, and containers. With its new status, Haldia can now provide official immigration checks for international ship crews and passengers. This should help reduce delays, speed up ship processing, and make the port more appealing to global shipping companies. Having designated checkpoints also helps verify foreign nationals arriving or departing by sea, thereby supporting national security and the smooth flow of trade.

India has immigration facilities at airports, seaports, and land borders to manage entry and exit under the 2025 Act. With over 7,500 km of coastline and increasing sea trade, adding more seaport checkpoints is important for effective border control. Including Haldia shows the Government’s commitment to modernising ports, improving regulations, and making it easier to do business at maritime gateways.

Recent upgrades at Haldia, like new automated bulk terminals, support this regulatory change. As more ships use the port, these steps help balance security with smooth international connections. This move should make Haldia more efficient and help the region’s economy grow by facilitating trade.