"We have received a fax on Tuesday afternoon from central intelligence agencies warning of the possibility of a terror attack in Kolkata, especially in the port area," senior Indian Coast Guard official BN Mahato told AFP.
"We have deployed hovercraft to intensify (a) night-long vigil in the Bay of Bengal," he said.
Kolkata police commissioner Surojit Karpurakayastha said security had been stepped up in the port area and parts of the city.
Police were "acting on the basis of the central intelligence agencies' alert," he said.
Security has been increased at Kolkata port area after intelligence inputs about a possible terror strike. (TOI photo by Subhrajit Chandra)
No further details about the alert were immediately available, but it comes days after a suicide bomb attack near the Pakistani side of the Wagah border killed 55 people and wounded more than 120.
India had placed several states on alert in September, when al-Qaida announced it was launching a new branch to "wage jihad" in South Asia.
Meanwhile, Navy on Tuesday withdrew two warships from Kolkata's port, a spokesman said.
The navy said the ships had withdrawn for "prior operational reasons", although they had been due to take part in an exhibition on Wednesday.
A notice put up on Khiddirpore Gate Number 3 in Kolkata port area announcing cancellation of public exhibition of Naval Warships INS Khukri and INS Sumitra. (TOI photo by Subhrajit Chandra)
"They had come there as part of preparations for the navy week exercise and moved out of the port for some prior operational reasons," spokesman DK Sharma told AFP.
"Like every year, the ships will return as and when the opportunity exists," he said.
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