Paradip Port is gearing up for investments exceeding ₹1 lakh crore in the coming days, announced port chairman P.L. Haranadh on Wednesday. Speaking at an outreach event in Bhubaneswar ahead of India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025, Haranadh said the eastern state is positioning itself as a major hub in India’s maritime growth story.
Highlighting Paradip’s central role, Haranadh noted: “Of the ₹10 lakh crore worth of MoUs expected during Maritime Week 2025, Paradip alone anticipates more than ₹1 lakh crore — nearly one-tenth of the national target.”
The chairman pointed to recent commitments unveiled at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bhavnagar event, including a ₹21,500 crore project for the Bahuda Major Port in Ganjam, a ₹24,700 crore shipbuilding hub at the Mahanadi Mouth in Kendrapara, and a proposed cruise terminal at Puri. “Lakhs of devotees visiting Puri will benefit from the new cruise terminal,” Haranadh added.
Scheduled from October 27–31 in Mumbai, IMW 2025 will convene over 100 maritime nations, 200 global speakers, 500 exhibitors and nearly 1 lakh delegates to deliberate on port modernisation, green shipping, shipbuilding, finance and maritime security.
Odisha’s industry minister Sampad Chandra Swain underscored the state’s ambitions under its Port Policy 2022. “We are expanding capacity and attracting private investment for non-major and greenfield ports at Astaranga and Subarnarekha, while strengthening Paradip, Dhamra and Gopalpur. Together these ports handled over 230 MMT of cargo this year, with Paradip setting a new record of 150.41 MMT — the highest among India’s major ports.”
He further said shipbuilding and repair hubs will serve both domestic and international fleets, supported by single-window clearances from the proposed Odisha Maritime Board.
Odisha’s industrial push is being buoyed by rapid economic growth. “With Odisha growing at 8–9% annually, ahead of the national average, integrating into the global value chain through ports and shipbuilding will sustain momentum,” said industries additional chief secretary Hemant Sharma.
Principal secretary Usha Padhee detailed the state’s long-term vision to scale port capacity from 80 MTPA to 500 MTPA by 2047, while MP Dr Bibhu Prasad Tarai stressed that Odisha is set to emerge as a “key maritime hub” of India.
