Chief Secretary AP Padhi reviewed the progress of both existing and proposed port projects at the State Secretariat here on Saturday.
Commerce and Transport Principal Secretary G Srinivas presented updates about Dhamra, Gopalpur, Astarang and Subarnarekha projects for discussion. While representatives of port authorities attended the meeting concerned district Collectors participated through videoconferencing.
The Dhamra Port, which was launched in 2011, has two berths and 18-km navigation channels with early cargo handling capacity of 25 million tonnes. A total of 21.42 mt cargo handled in 2016-17, which is 40 per cent more than the previous year. While a total of 3,272 persons have been appointed, 88 per cent of them are local Odia youths.
It was decided that a container system would be created in the port in 2018.
While the Government has provided 763 acres of land for the second-phase expansion, the Chief Secretary asked port officials to plan for third-phase expansion and development of an airstrip near Dhamra. He asked the Idco to construct boundary walls around Government lands near the port.
The Phailin-affected Gopalpur Port, which resumed operation in 2015, is now constructing two new berths for expansion. It was decided that a backup yard would be constructed by June 2019. Padhi directed the port officials to renovate fishing jetty, develop sea beach to the north and take schemes for development of fishermen. He too directed to engage more local people in port construction works.
Padhi wanted authorities of Subarnarekha and Astaranga port authorities to begin field level works as land some developments have been achieved in land acquisition and environment clearance works.