Mahanadi Riverine Port project gains momentum as Odisha 5T Secy visits site

Kendrapara: The proposed Mahanadi Riverine Port project in Odisha’s Kendrapara district is likely to be expedited as 5T Secretary VK Pandian, Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy and other senior officials today visited the site as per the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The bureaucrats travelled to the site on a vessel of Paradip Port Trust (PPT) with PPT Chairman Rinkesh Roy. Mahakalapada MLA Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak was also present at the site and had discussion with the officials about the project. Kendrapara Collector Samarth Verma also participated in the discussion.

Notably, the Ministry of Port, Shipping & Waterways has agreed to the State Government’s proposal for the Riverine Port to be developed by PPT for which the formal MoU with the State Government is under finalisation.

The port will come up at Akhadasali village under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapara district, 13 km away from the river mouth at Paradip.

This all-weather and multi-user port on river Mahanadi will be set up in PPP mode with a capacity of 54 MTPA at estimated cost of Rs 4,062 crore, of which 22 MTPA capacity will be created in the first phase at a cost of Rs 2,562 crore.

PPT will develop supporting project infrastructure like rail and road connectivity and dredging requirements of the port. The State Government has identified 300 hectares of land for the project.

The government will also provide necessary support to PPT in respect of any additional land required for the project. In 2018, the government had decided to go ahead with Mahanadi Riverine Port and an RFQ was issued.

However, the project couldn’t progress due to lack of interest by potential bidders. PPT then evinced interest in the project and consequently the MoU is proposed to be signed with the State Government.

On commissioning, the port will provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to more than 4000 persons in the first phase and about another 1700 in the 2nd phase.