BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to set up a riverine port on Mahanadi river near Akhadasali village under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapara district. A decision in this regard was taken at the meeting of the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at State Secretariat here on Saturday. The port to be set up in PPP mode on build-own-operate-transfer (BOOST) basis will be completed in two phases.
Official sources said in response to the request for qualification (RFQ) floated for this purpose, four developers have submitted their applications. It was decided in the HLCA meeting to issue request for proposal (RFP) to all four applicants to participate in RFP stage and to give in-principle approval to the project as well as to the draft RFP, draft concession agreement and land lease agreement.
In the first phase, two berths will be established for transportation of 18.43 million tonne of cargo per annum for which the expenditure has been estimated at Rs 2,110 crore. The requirement of land for the first phase development will be around 175 hectares (ha). The port will be connected with National Highway 5-A (now NH-53) and Haridaspur-Paradip railway line for transportation of cargo. The capacity of transportation of cargo will increase from 18.43 million tonne per annum to 45.88 million tonne per annum in the second phase. Additional 125 ha of land will be required for the second phase.
Official sources said about 4,300 direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created in the first phase while 10,700 direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created in the second phase.
Project plan
Rs 2,110 cr estimated expenditure
175 ha land for first phase development
125 ha land will be required for second phase
15000 job opportunities
