Context: Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister has approved the renaming of Kolkata Port Trust as 'Syama Prasad Mookerjee Trust'.
About Kolkata Port Trust

• The Kolkata Port is the oldest operating port in India, and was constructed by the British East India Company.
• It is the first major port and the only riverine port of the country.
• Its navigational channel is one of the longest in the world.
• It came to be governed by a Trust on 17th October, 1870 on appointment of the Commissioners for Improvement of the Port of Calcutta as per Act V of 1870.
• It features under the Major Ports of the Indian Ports Act, 1908 and is governed by the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.
• Kolkata Port is connected to National Waterway No. 1 (Ganga), National Waterway No. 2 (Brahmaputra) and Waterways through Sundarban.

Gateway to Eastern India:

• It is the guiding factor to trade and commerce of vast hinterland comprising the entire Eastern India including Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh and the two land-locked Himalayan Kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan.
• Governance: The Kolkata Port Trust is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Shipping, administered through the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.

Other Renaming of Ports in India

• Nhava Sheva Port Trust was renamed as Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust by the Government in the year 1989.
• The Tuticorin Port Trust was renamed as V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust in the year 2011.
• The Ennore Port Limited has been re-named as Kamarajar Port Limited in the honour of Shri K Kamarajar.
• In 2017, Kandla Port was re-named as Deendayal Port.