The State Government has started the groundwork to develop a riverine port which would be the second of its kind in the country on the Mahanadi river mouth near Paradip.
The proposed port would be developed on PPP mode at an estimated investment of Rs 500 crore, State Secretary for Commerce and Transport G Mathivathanan said.
Talking to newsmen here on Thursday, Mathivathanan said the bidding for the port would be made around March or April next and the concession agreement is likely to be signed in June next. The proposed port would not affect the functioning of the existing Paradip Port any way, he said.
Stating that the Planning Commission of India is providing the hand-holding support for the project, the Commerce and Transport Secretary said that public sector expert body WAPCOS had been asked to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and submit the same within two months.
Mathivathanam said the Mahanadi river mouth port on completion would be the second riverine port in the country after Tapti in Gujarat.