The Republic Day was celebrated by the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) with much enthusiasm here at the Gopabandhu Stadium. PPT Chief Mechanical Engineer Sunil Kumar Pattnaik unfurled the National Flag as the chief guest and took Salute from 39 platoons in the march-past consisting of CISF Jawans, students of Paradip College and different schools ad port employees retiring in the year 2015.
Pattnaik announced that the Paradip Port handled a record cargo of 68 million tonnes last year with an unprecedented growth rate of 20.25 per cent which is second among the Major Ports. The port has the highest capacity among all the Major Ports, i.e., 108.50 MT per annum. This year, the performance is also quite satisfactory and the port is steadily marching ahead on the path of progress.
He said the port has a very ambitious plan for expansion, and by the year 2023, it is going to increase its capacity to 270 MT per annum. He also said that besides the core activities, the port has always played a proactive role for promotion of other activities such as education, sports, community health and employment generation. The port spends more than the mandatory budget to fulfil its CSR.
On the occasion, school students displayed mass drill and yoga while Paradip Sakshyarata Samiti members presented a patriotic group song. CISF personnel displayed drill. The chief guest awarded prizes to the platoons that exhibited best performances.
A poets’ meet was organised at the Officers’ Club and an exhibition women volleyball match was held at the Gopabandhu Stadium. In the evening, a patriotic dance competition was held among school student of Paradip at the Jayadev Sadan.