Systematic study of charts, maps and satellite images pertaining to 1967-68, 1975, 1992, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2012, indicate that the Balari Bar steadily increased, choking up the northern portion of the Haldia Channel, on the west of the Hugli Estuary. Its rapid growth, from 0.29 km(2) in 1997 to 3.83 km(2) in 2012, started to threaten the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC). Eight superimposed profiles across the 15 km Balari Reach of the estuary show gradual deterioration of the western Haldia Channel and the improvement of the eastern Rangafalla Channel resulting in the concentration of the tidal flows in the latter. The decrease in the overall capacity of the reach has been 8.13% from 2000 to 2012. The result of this is reflected on the performance of the HDC as some of its share of cargo is diverted to the other sea ports in the vicinity.