Farakka Barrage Project with headquarters at Farakka in Murshidabad district of West Bengal is a subordinate office under the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation. The Farakka Barrage Project Authority was set up in 1961 with the mandate to execute and thereafter operate and maintain the Farakka Barrage Project Complex comprising of Farakka Barrage, Jangipur Barrage, Feeder Canal, Navigation Lock and associated structures. The Barrage comprises of 112 nos. of Gates (108 Nos. main Gates and 4 Nos. Fish Lock Gates) and 11 Nos. Head Regulator Gates for diversion of approximately 40,000 cusec (1035 cumec) of discharge into the Feeder Canal. The project construction commenced in 1961 and the project was commissioned and dedicated to the Nation in May 1975.

Main objective of the Farakka Barrage Project complex is to divert adequate quantity of Ganga waters to Bhagirathi-Hoogly river system through 38.38 km long feeder canal for preservation and maintenance of Kolkata Port by improving the regime and navigability of the Bhagirathi-Hoogly river system. The increased upland supply from Ganga at Farakka into Bhagirathi reduces salinity and ensures sweet water supply to Kolkata and surrounding areas. The rail-cum-road bridge built across the river Ganga at Farakka establishes direct road and rail communication link to the North-Eastern Region with rest of the country. The Hoogly-Bhagirathi river system, the Feeder Canal and the Navigation Lock at Farakka form part of the Haldia-Allahabad Inland Waterway (National Waterway No:1). The Feeder Canal also supplies water to 2100 MW Farakka Super Thermal Power Project (FSTPP) of NTPC Ltd. at Farakka.