A State Workshop on the Sagarmala Project was organised by the Union Ministry of Shipping; and the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) here on Monday to disseminate the findings of the Draft National Perspective Plan and obtain inputs on it from the State Government and other stakeholders.
The focus was to bring all the stakeholders like officials of the State and Central Governments, infrastructure agencies like the NHAI, the Railways, Non-Major Ports, EXIM industries, associations and organisations connected in maritime activities in one forum under the Sagarmala Project in Odisha and also to deliberate and discuss on the inputs for the project.
Presiding over the meeting, PPT Chairman Rinkesh Roy said the Sagarmala Project is an initiative of the Union Government to establish India as a global maritime leader by maximising trade and tourism potentials of the nation’s vast coastline. Its key focus is on providing impetus to infrastructure modernisation and development projects across the coastline and improving connectivity between ports through rail, road, inland waterways and coastal network.
The main cargo expected to materialise for the ports in Odisha, especially Paradip, is movement of thermal coal from the Mahanadi Coalfields to southern and western India through coastal shipping, he added.
Union Ministry of Shipping Joint Secretary Rabindra Agarwal, highlighting the objectives of Sagarmala project, said that under this project importance is being given to improve operational efficiency of the ports with cost-effective multi-modal logistic solutions and develop port-based industrial activities. To achieve this, the ports should be modernised, evacuation of cargo via coastal shipping to be prioritised, railway infrastructure for the first mile and last mile to be improved, port-based infrastructures to be developed along with the coastal industrial zones.
State Commerce and Transport Principal Secretary Sanjay Rastogi highlighted the need for building industrial clusters in Odisha. State Industries Principal Secretary Sanjeev Chopra opined for building an industrial corridor between Bhubaneswar and Paradip to boost industrial activities. PPT Deputy Chairman N Vaiyapuri extended a vote of thanks.