Kendrapada: The proposed Mahanadi riverine port project in the district received a further boost as a team of high-level officials visited the site on the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday.
The team, led by Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, 5T Secretary VK Pandian, Special Secretary, Commerce & Transport Manoj Mishra and chairman of the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) Rinkesh Roy visited the proposed site on a vessel near Akhadasali village under Mahakalapada block, about 13 km from the river mouth at Paradip.
The team held a meeting with Mahakalapada MLA Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and district collector Samarth Verma there.
The all-weather and multi-user port on river Mahanadi with a capacity of 54 MTPA will be set up in PPP mode at an estimated cost of Rs 4,062 crore. In the first phase, 22 MTPA capacity will be created at a cost of Rs 2,562 crore.
The port will develop supporting project infrastructures like rail and road connectivity and dredging. The state government will also provide necessary support to PPT in respect of any additional land required for the project.
On commissioning, the riverine port will provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to more than 4000 persons in the first phase and about 1700 more in the second phase.
Apart from this, the port along with Haridaspur-Paradip Railway line will go a long way in boosting the economy of Kendrapada district.
It may be mentioned that the state government had decided to go ahead with Mahanadi riverine port and issued a request for quotation (RFQ) in 2018. As the project could not progress due to a lack of interest by potential bidders, the PPT evinced interest in the project.
The Ministry of Port, Shipping & Waterways has agreed to the proposal of the state government for the riverine port to be developed by PPT for which the formal MoU with the state government is under finalisation.
