The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has designated the Haldia seaport in West Bengal as an immigration checkpoint, taking the number of seaport immigration checkpoints along India’s coastline to 41. The notification, issued on June 22, adds Haldia to a list that previously stood at 40, making it the latest entry point where immigration clearance will be carried out for international maritime traffic.
An immigration checkpoint is a notified entry or exit point at which immigration clearance is conducted for foreign nationals and Indian citizens travelling across international borders. These checkpoints are administered through the Bureau of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs, and their designation allows a port to formally handle international passenger movement alongside customs and border procedures.
Haldia is located in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal and operates as a riverine port connected to the Hooghly estuary. The Haldia Dock Complex was developed to reduce the load on Kolkata Port, one of the major ports on the eastern coast, and began international operations in 1977. Its designation gives the eastern coast an additional notified gateway for cross-border maritime travel.
The move is part of a wider expansion of seaport immigration checkpoints across the country. In May, Dahej, Sikka and Tuna Tekra in Gujarat were added to the list, following earlier additions including Vizhinjam in Kerala and Hazira and Pipavav in Gujarat. The central government has framed this expansion as a step towards strengthening border management and supporting smoother international passenger movement and maritime trade connectivity. For West Bengal, the addition of Haldia formalises the port’s role in handling international arrivals and departures on the eastern seaboard.
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