State govt is planning to expand its maritime infrastructure by constructing two additional seaports, complementing the three existing ports at Paradip, Dhamra and Gopalpur.
On Wednesday, industries secretary Hemant Sharma said chief minister Mohan Majhi approved the development of new ports at Inchuri in Balasore district in northern Odisha and Bahuda in Ganjam district in the southern part of the state, with potential investors evincing interest.
State govt is planning to sign an agreement with PSA Singapore, a leading port group with a global network across 45 countries, in Jan for technical assistance to develop the two new ports. “Govt will adopt a transparent selection process to involve private parties for development of the new ports in public-private partnership mode,” Sharma said.
A prominent ship building and repair company has applied to the state govt to set up a shipyard facility. A shipyard will come up at either of these two new ports, govt sources said. Govt is eyeing industrial expansion around Gopalpur and Dhamra ports. It cleared an investment of Rs 6,000 crore by Orissa Metallurgical Industry Private Limited for an integrated steel plant near Dhamra port in Bhadrak district. Many investment proposals, particularly in chemical and petrochemical sectors near Gopalpur port, will be unveiled during the Utkarsh Odisha Investors’ Summit on Jan 28 and 29.
By 2030, Odisha aims to increase its port cargo handling capacity to over 500 million tonnes per annum, compared to around 290 MTPA now, with exports projected to grow by 20% annually, making it a critical player in India’s industrial resurgence.
Though the govt has notified a total of 14 non-major port locations, it has zeroed in on the two in Balasore and Ganjam after assessing the immediate potential for investments, the sources said. Its earlier plan of developing Palur port in Ganjam district had hit some roadblocks due to land issues.