In order to advance port development and increase cargo handling capacities, the state government will soon create the Odisha Maritime Perspective Plan (OMPP) and Odisha Ports Capacity Augmentation Plan (OPCAP).
After researching the maritime ecosystem, including ports, hinterland potential, cargo evacuation, port connectivity, environmental improvement, and development of coastal communities, both OMPP and OPCAP would prepare advertisements.
In 2021–2022, Odisha handled around 160 MTPA of cargo, with the principal port of Paradip handling the majority at 116 MTPA. While the establishment of newer ports is prioritised in order to handle the growing volume of cargo, current and prospective ports’ cargo handling capacities will also be given equal weight.
The new port policy was announced by the Commerce and Transport department on Saturday, one day after it received approval from the state cabinet, which is presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Dhamra and Gopalpur are two of the 14 probable locations for the establishment of non-major ports that the state government has previously identified. The new strategy will make it easier for private developers to build such minor ports.
Bishnupada Sethi, the department’s principal secretary, said plans for brand-new ports—known as “greenfield projects”—would be supported alongside “brownfield projects” by converting the current jetty and other infrastructure into a port.
According to the policy, the rehabilitate, operate, and transfer (ROT) structure will be utilised for brownfield port construction of fisheries jetty, passenger jetty, or other cargo jetties/ports. The build, own, operate, share, transfer (BOOST) model will be used for greenfield port development.
Last year, the promoter/developer received notification from the Odisha Maritime Board (OMB) that it would facilitate and offer help in the acquisition of the land. The OMB plans to build marinas and multipurpose harbours along the coast using a PPP model to increase tourism and other auxiliary industries.
In order to identify potential sustainable interventions in various coastal areas for tourism promotion, it will work in coordination with the tourism department to create a coastal tourism master plan.
“The port developers would be responsible for the overall development of economic corridors, including roadways, railways, and pipeline infrastructure. The policy will promote a hub and spoke model for handling the movement of coastal cargo in the state,” Sethi stated.
Prasanta Patnaik