Industry Odisha Bureau, Aug 21: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal today inaugurated seven major infrastructure projects worth Rs 427.80 crore at Paradip Port Authority (PPA), marking the port’s 18.5-metre deep-draft capability while witnessing the signing of concession agreements for three mechanisation projects worth Rs 1,580.36 crore.
The projects span navigation, connectivity, safety, sustainability, residential infrastructure and community development, while the mechanisation projects are aimed at improving cargo handling and reducing vessel turnaround time.
He inaugurated 18.5-metre deep-draft capability at the port worth 352 crore. The capital dredging will enable the port to handle fully laden capesize vessels in its inner harbour, improving economies of scale and helping reduce vessel turnaround and logistics costs, the officials said.
He also launched a 500-metre, three-lane bridge of Rs 24.89 crore, sports hostel (Rs 2.10 crore), upgraded administrative office building (Rs 12.18 crore), piped natural gas supply to residential quarters (Rs 20 crore), and an advanced vessel traffic management and information system (Rs 15.50 crore).
The Union Minister was joined by Odisha Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain; Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai; Paradip Port Authority Chairman P. L. Haranadh; Deputy Chairman T. Venu Gopal; senior officials, stakeholders and members of the Paradip Port community.
Sonowal said the investments would strengthen Paradip’s position as a major maritime gateway and create wider economic opportunities across the eastern region.
“The expansion of Paradip Port’s capacity is not only about strengthening one port; it is about creating a growth multiplier for eastern India. With deeper drafts, modern cargo-handling infrastructure, improved connectivity and greater mechanisation, Paradip is well positioned to drive trade, logistics, industry and employment across the region and contribute to India’s emergence as a globally competitive maritime economy,” Sonowal said.
During his visit to the Port, Sonowal planted Paradip Port’s one-millionth tree, marking a milestone in the port’s plantation and green-cover initiatives.
The green milestone builds on plantation drives initiated after the 1999 Super Cyclone, with the Authority intensifying plantation activities over the past four years.
PPA said nearly one lakh trees have been planted annually during this period, with employees, stakeholders and local communities contributing to the effort. The port further said the initiative is aimed at expanding green cover, supporting biodiversity and strengthening environmental sustainability.
PPA also signed concession agreements for three projects, with an investment of Rs 1,580.36 crore, as part of its plan to achieve 100% berth mechanisation by 2030, compared with the current level of 80%. They will support faster, safer and cleaner cargo handling while reducing vessel turnaround times and logistics costs.
The agreements cover the 5 MTPA South Quay mechanisation project, awarded to Yogayatan Paradip SQB Terminal Pvt. Ltd. at an estimated investment of Rs 498.69 crore on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis; the 8 MTPA Multipurpose Berth mechanisation project, awarded to Kalinga Bulk Terminal Paradip Pvt. Ltd. at Rs 630.67 crore, also on a BOT basis; and the 10 MTPA captive CQ-III mechanisation project, awarded to AMNS Paradip Logistics Pvt. Ltd. at an estimated Rs 451 crore.
The Union Minister said the development of Paradip is part of the wider transformation underway in India’s maritime sector.
“Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India has embarked on an unprecedented phase of maritime modernisation. Over the past 12 years, we have fundamentally strengthened our ports, waterways, shipping and maritime capabilities, making the sector a powerful engine of growth and theanchor of an Atmanirbhar Bharat and our journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047,”Sonowal said.
