MP (Berhampur) Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy has urged Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal to set up at least three ports along the Odisha coast, including two in Ganjam district.
He has demanded establishment of ports at Astaranga in Puri district, Bahuda and Palur in Ganjam district in the Lok Sabha recently while participating in the debate on Bills of Lading, 2025, which aims to update and simplify the legal framework for shipping documents.
He said Odisha has a 480-km long coast line making it ideal for establishment of ports. ‘In the bygone era, Palur near Ganjam town and Bahuda near Sonapur in Ganjam district had two major ports, apart from Gopalpuir. Kalinga, the ancient Odisha, had developed due to its rich maritime activities and ports like Bahuda, Palur and Gopalpur had played a major role in it,’ he said. Now the time has come to strengthen our maritime activities by
establishing the ports in the state, he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused on development of Odisha. ‘The central govt has formulated Purvodaya Plan for all-round development of five eastern states, including Odisha. The ports would play a major role in it,’ he added. Panigrahi said he would soon meet Sonowal to apprise him of Odisha’s ancient maritime tradition. Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced establishment of two ports in the state in the 2025-26 budget.