Govt’s push for maritime board to expedite state port projects

Bhubaneswar: The state cabinet’s recent move approving a proposal for the formation of a maritime board in Odisha to regulate non-nationalized ports is expected to expedite the progress of various port projects in the state.
The maritime board, which will have 12 members and the chief secretary as its chairperson, will administer, control and manage the non-major ports to be developed in the state.
As the state has a 480-km long coastline, the commerce and transport department has identified 14 potential locations for the development of non-major ports by roping in private players to accelerate the state’s economic growth and generate employment.
Besides the Paradip Port — a major port that functions under the Union ministry of shipping — two non-major ports at Dhamra and Gopalpur are already operational in the state.
Two more non-major ports at Astarang and Subarnarekha Mouth are in the pipeline.
Though some other locations like Bichitrapur, Chandipur and Inchudi in Balasore district, Chudamani in Bhadrak, Jatadhar Muhan in Jagatsinghpur, Baliharchandi in Puri and Palur and Bahuda Muhan in Ganjam have been identified as potential locations for the development of ports, no major progress has been made.
There is also a plan to develop a riverine port on the Mahanadi near Akhadasali village under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapada district. The state government has already conducted techno economic-feasibility studies of some of the potential locations while a few other projects could not make any headway after developers backed out.
When contacted, state commerce and transport minister Padmanabha Behera said the state government has always stressed on port-led industrialization. “After taking charge of the department, I have reviewed the status of various port projects and asked officials to expedite the process. Soon, I will review them again,” Behera told TOI.
Navayuga Engineering Company Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop the proposed port at Astaranga with an investment of nearly Rs 7,300 crore. The land acquisition process is under progress.
Similarly, Tata Steel will develop the port at Subarnarekha Mouth at an estimated cost of Rs 2,345 crore. The riverine port near Mahakalapada will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 2,110 crore.
Apart from Odisha, investors from neighboring states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, will also be benefitted from the port projects planned in the state.
During 2018-19, the state government earned Rs 160.61 crore as revenue from the Paradip Port while earnings from Dhamra and Gopalpur ports during the same period was estimated at Rs 86.40 crore and Rs 4.92 crore, respectively, official sources said.