Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday inaugurated seven major infrastructure projects worth Rs 427.80 crore at Paradip Port Authority (PPA) in Odisha.
The projects cover navigation, connectivity, safety, sustainability, residential infrastructure and community development. The event also marked Paradip Port’s 18.5-metre deep-draft capability and the planting of its one-millionth tree, according to an official statement.
PPA also signed concession agreements for three mechanisation projects worth Rs 1,580.36 crore. The projects are aimed at further strengthening the port’s capacity, improving cargo-handling efficiency and reducing vessel turnaround time.
Odisha Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Sampad Chandra Swain, Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai, PPA Chairman P. L. Haranadh, Deputy Chairman T. Venu Gopal, senior officials, stakeholders and members of the Paradip Port community attended the event.
The Rs 352-crore capital dredging project will enable Paradip Port to handle fully laden Capesize vessels in its inner harbour. The deeper draft is expected to improve economies of scale and help reduce vessel turnaround and logistics costs.
Another major project is the Rs 24.89-crore Atharbanki Second New Bridge. The 500-metre, three-lane bridge has footpaths and a dedicated pipeline corridor across Atharbanki Creek. It is expected to ease congestion along a route used by nearly 3,000 trucks daily.
The Rs 2.10-crore Sports Hostel will provide accommodation and amenities for aspiring athletes, supporting youth development. The Rs 12.18-crore façade redevelopment of the Administrative Office Building and its surroundings was executed by NBCC (India) Ltd.
The project includes improved parking and circulation facilities.
The Rs 20-crore piped natural gas project has been developed in partnership with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. Its first phase will extend PNG connectivity to 546 residential quarters in Madhuban. The facility is expected to reduce household gas expenses by up to 40%.
The Rs 15.50-crore Advanced Vessel Traffic Management and Information System has been developed with the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts at IIT Madras.
The system integrates solid-state radar, artificial intelligence, AIS, CCTV, oil-spill monitoring and 3D visualisation to monitor vessel movement up to 20 nautical miles from a modern ATC-style signal station.
Sonowal also planted Paradip Port’s one-millionth tree, marking a milestone in the port’s plantation and green-cover initiatives.
The plantation drive builds on initiatives started after the 1999 Super Cyclone. PPA said nearly one lakh trees have been planted annually during the past four years, with employees, stakeholders and local communities contributing to the effort. The initiative aims to expand green cover, support biodiversity and strengthen environmental sustainability.
PPA also signed concession agreements for three mechanisation projects with a combined investment of Rs 1,580.36 crore. These projects are part of the Authority’s plan to achieve 100% berth mechanisation by 2030, compared with the current level of 80%.
The 5 MTPA South Quay mechanisation project has been awarded to M/s Yogayatan Paradip SQB Terminal Pvt. Ltd. at an estimated investment of Rs 498.69 crore on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis.
The 8 MTPA Multipurpose Berth mechanisation project has been awarded to M/s Kalinga Bulk Terminal Paradip Pvt. Ltd. at an investment of Rs 630.67 crore, also on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis.
The 10 MTPA captive CQ-III mechanisation project has been awarded to M/s AMNS Paradip Logistics Pvt. Ltd. at an estimated investment of Rs 451 crore.
The three projects are expected to support faster, safer and cleaner cargo handling while reducing vessel turnaround times and logistics costs.
Sonowal said the investments would strengthen Paradip Port’s position as a major maritime gateway and create wider economic opportunities across eastern India.
He said the expansion of Paradip Port was not only about strengthening one port but also about creating a growth multiplier for eastern India. He highlighted deeper drafts, modern cargo-handling infrastructure, improved connectivity and greater mechanisation as factors that would help drive trade, logistics, industry and employment across the region.
The Union minister also said the development of Paradip was part of the wider transformation underway in India’s maritime sector. He highlighted the strengthening of ports, waterways, shipping and maritime capabilities over the past 12 years.
