Odisha Government’s Chief Secretary Visits Paradip Port

Paradip:

Port Wings News Network:

Anu Garg, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, on 13 February 2026 visited Paradip Port to understand its operations and long-term expansion plans.

She was received by P. L. Haranadh, IRTS, Chairman, PPA, at the Wet Basin and accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by the CISF Unit. She also took a launch ride to review berth readiness, vessel traffic management systems, and marine operations.

Paradip Port achieved a record cargo handling of 150.41 MMT in FY 2024–25, ranking as India’s No. 1 Major Port. With a rated capacity of 289 MTPA, industry-leading productivity, and a provisional net surplus of ₹1,860 crore, the Port continues to set national benchmarks while maintaining the lowest vessel and cargo charges among major ports.

During the interaction, the Chief Secretary outlined Odisha’s ambitious economic roadmap targeting $500 billion by 2036 and $1.5 trillion by 2047. She emphasized the need for double-digit growth driven by exports, shipbuilding, and port-led development, highlighting Odisha’s coastline as a strategic advantage.

She underscored the importance of the “Paradip Port 2.0” vision, including capacity expansion beyond 500 MTPA, Western Dock deepening, and development of a dedicated green hydrogen berth. Discussions also covered the proposed 150 MTPA Bahuda Port in Ganjam district and a 1.2 million GT capacity shipbuilding and ship repair cluster north of the Mahanadi in Kendrapara district.

These projects, to be developed through a Special Purpose Vehicle between the Government of Odisha and Paradip Port Authority, are expected to significantly strengthen the State’s maritime economy. Development of a cruise terminal at Puri was also discussed, with emphasis on priority implementation.

The Chief Secretary stressed integrated development of Paradip alongside industrial growth in PCPIR, the Plastic Park, AMNS, and the Green Hydrogen hub, supported by industrial townships, housing, tourism infrastructure, and urban amenities. She highlighted planned land use, strong law and order, and inclusive public infrastructure as key enablers of growth.

Referring to Odisha’s strong fiscal position and high capital expenditure allocation, she called for diversification beyond mining into shipbuilding, renewable energy, rare earth processing, aerospace, apparel, tourism, and cruise development to ensure sustainable long-term expansion.

The visit reaffirmed a shared commitment to transform Paradip into a globally competitive maritime gateway and a major driver of Odisha’s economic and maritime growth. District Collector and District Magistrate of Jagatsinghpur, J. Sonal, IAS, and Superintendent of Police, Jagatsinghpur, Ankit Kumar Verma, IPS, were also present on the occasion. T. Venu Gopal, Deputy Chairman, PPA, along with senior officials of Paradip Port Authority, attended the deliberations.

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