The Republic Day was celebrated by the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) amid enthusiasm here on Friday.
PPT Chairman Rinkesh Roy unfurled the National Flag and took salute from 38 platoons consisting of CISF jawans, students of the Paradip College and different schools of Paradip township and members of the Orissa Maritime Academy.
Roy informed that the Port is poised to reach 100 MMT mark in terms of cargo handling and, thus, will join an “Exclusive Club” of Ports that have handled 100 MMTs namely Kandla and Mundra.
He said the port is augmenting its capacity under the ambitious Sagarmala Programme. The port’s cargo handling capacity has been increased to 277 MMT per annum, which is the highest among all major Ports. Four projects namely mechanisation of EQ-1, 2 and 3, constructions of a new Deep Draught Iron Ore Berth, Clean Cargo Berth and Container Berth are at various stages of progress. The Clean Cargo Berth, which is slated for commissioning this year, will boost economy of Odisha and nearby States, he said.
The Paradip Port will emerge as one of the premier industrial hubs of the country and the Smart Industrial Port City will also fit into this vision. Under CSR activities, the Port is sponsoring 120 students each year for training through CIPET Bhubaneswar for gainful employment after training. Free cataract operations have been conducted on 163 BPl persons at PPT Hospital till date in the current fiscal. The Port is committed to treat 200 such persons in each fiscal.
Roy unveiled two magazines, “Paradip Port News” and “Deepa Jyoti”. A poets’ meet was organised at the Officer’s Club.