The Odisha Government has been proactively following a policy of promoting and developing non-Major Ports in the State in PPP mode since 2004, said Minister Planning and Convergence, Commerce and Transport Padmanabha Behera on Wednesday.
Two ports have been functional and three are in the pipeline including the proposed Mahanadi riverine port in Kendrapada district. Development of National Waterways will be economically viable and provide an alternative route for transportation of minerals to Paradip, he said while participating in a special session at the Maritime India Summit-2021 here. Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the State has rich history of maritime trade and explorations and making Odisha a strong pillar will be befitting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
“Odisha has been at the center of PM Narendra Modi’s Purvodaya vision also. Massive investment is being made to promote infrastructure development activities across the various industrial and commercial sectors in Odisha. It is emerging as the energy gateway of eastern India,” he said. He urged all stakeholders to unite their efforts as a team to help create an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Principal Secretary Commerce and Transport Madhusudan Padhi elaborating on port sector and port-led development in the State of Odisha said that as per study by IIT, Chennai, 14 locations have been identified for development of non-major ports.
“The Odisha Government is following a proactive policy, in which private players are encouraged to establish ports in BOOST method. For upcoming Mahanadi Riverine Port, the PPT is going to sign an MoU," he said. Padhi said the upcoming 12 MT JSW Steel plant is going to establish a port at Jatadhari mouth. The concept of port-led industrialization will script the future success story of Odisha, said Padhi, adding, “A port near Nua Nai in Puri will promote cruise tourism in the region and can be a clean cargo dealing container port.
Transparent Port policy and friendly industrial policy will make journey of potentials investors, easy.”Principal Secretary Industries Hemanta Sharma highlighting the port-led development in the State said that Odisha is growing by leaps and bounds in industrialisation trade and commerce.
Among others, CEO AMNS Dilip Oommen, JSPL Managing Director VR Sharma and Vice President Supply Chain Tata Steel Dibyendu Bose spoke.