India is accelerating its transition towards environmentally sustainable maritime infrastructure, with Paradip Port in Odisha emerging as a key pillar of the country’s green port strategy.
Under the Centre’s “Harit Sagar” guidelines and the National Green Hydrogen Mission, major ports are adopting cleaner technologies. Paradip’s designation as a Green Hydrogen Hub places Odisha at the forefront of this transformation. The Paradip Port Authority has been selected by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy as one of only three major ports to develop such hubs, alongside Deendayal Port and V.O. Chidambaranar Port.
As part of the initiative, the government has approved a ₹797.17 crore project to build a dedicated green hydrogen and green ammonia handling jetty at Paradip. The facility, to be developed under a public-private partnership model, will have a cargo handling capacity of 4 million tonnes per annum, significantly enhancing Odisha’s maritime and clean energy logistics capabilities.
Across the country, Indian ports are undergoing a broader green transformation. Initiatives such as the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) are driving the shift from diesel-powered tugboats to electric and hybrid alternatives. Work orders for electric tugs have already been placed at ports including Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Visakhapatnam Port, alongside Deendayal and V.O. Chidambaranar ports.
Ports are also increasing the use of renewable energy, electrifying cargo-handling equipment, deploying zero-emission trucks, and installing shore power systems that allow ships to switch off onboard fuel engines while docked. Additionally, all major ports are extending shore-to-ship power facilities for smaller vessels and promoting environmentally safe ship recycling practices.
To support sustainable recycling, incentives worth ₹53.39 crore have been disbursed to 109 ship recycling yards under the Ferrous Scrap Development Fund. Among the three hydrogen hubs, Deendayal Port has already commissioned a 1 MW green hydrogen plant, while V.O. Chidambaranar Port is advancing pilot hydrogen production and green methanol bunkering projects.
With its large-scale infrastructure push, Paradip Port stands out as a critical node in India’s evolving green maritime ecosystem. The development is expected to boost industrial growth, improve trade efficiency, and position Odisha as a leading hub in the country’s clean energy future.
