The Sagarmala project, as envisaged by the Central Government, would immensely benefit the Paradip and Dhamra ports of Odisha.
According to senior officials in the Union Ministry of Shipping, the Sagarmala project includes a Port Master Plan-2035 for the Paradip Port, a Smart City for Paradip, a Master Plan for Coastal Economic Zone and major road and rail connectivity.
Besides, skill development and development of the fisheries sector and coastal community development by setting up a fund is planned under this ambitious project.
The project envisages developing Paradip as a Smart City. The Paradip Port Trust has started the process to select an international consultant for the purpose which would prepare a Techno-Economic Feasibility Study for setting up Smart City, said sources.
With Paradip being added to the list, Odisha would have three Smart Cities including Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. “Major capacity addition and future planning with massive investment is proposed for the Paradip Port and, accordingly, the Port Master Plan -2035 will be chalked out which will be finalised by December 2015,” informed the sources.
Besides, there are several rail projects, to be proposed to Ministry of Railways, which include new a railway line bridge between Jajpur Raod and Sukinda Road at a cost of Rs 400 crore, which is needed for coal transportation from the Dhamra Port.
Similarly, a project to increase railway track weight handling capacity at a cost of Rs 125 crore for the Paradip Port, a new line from Haridaspur-Paradip at a cost of Rs 640 crore, doubling of Sambalpur-Talcher rail line at a cost of Rs 650 crore, doubling of railway line from Rajathgarh-Barang-Cuttack at a cost of Rs 260 crore, setting up of autonomous locomotive system for the Paradip-Talcher rail line at a cost of Rs 125 crore, doubling of the Titilagarh-Sambalpur rail line at a cost of Rs 720 crore, building a long Haul loop between Paradip and Talcher for cargo movement would be undertaken.
Similarly, the road projects include six-laning of Paradip-Chandikhol at a cost of Rs 500 crore to be proposed to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways under the Sagarmala Project, said the sources.
Apart from these projects, the Paradip and Dhamra Ports would take up several infrastructure development projects, which include capacity addition of iron ore berth at Dhamra, barge berth addition to add capacity at Dhamra, setting up of deep draft jetty at Paradip, mechanisation of berths, building up to three additional berths, building three new wagon loading facilities and a few others at Paradip under port modernisation.
The sources said the State Government has been requested to assist in preparation of a detailed master plan for the proposed Coastal Economic Zone.