Odisha unveils expansion of major ports

In a bid to achieve 600 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) cargo handling capacity in each of its ports, state government in Odisha recently decided to take the combined capacity of Paradip and Dhamra Ports to newer high, official sources said that only last year, Paradip Port alone handled one of the highest amounts of cargo in India. It said adding that Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Odisha, Sanjeev Chopra, has recommended to the Centre to consider Odisha's Coastal Economic Zone for development in the first phase of Sagarmala project. The state government said investments of Rs.79,000 crore has already been approved by the state's single window clearance authority for port-led industrialization in the districts adjoining these ports and they already have presence of anchor tenants like Adani, IOCL, PPL and IFFCO. The two ports in Odisha not only act as the gateway for trade with ASEAN region but the NH-16 and Howarh-Chennai (rail) link act as the 'spine' to connect Paradip and Dhamra to other parts of the country.