The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
PARADIP, JANUARY 26, 2022
The 73rd Republic Day of India was celebrated by Paradip Port Trust (PPT) in a restrained manner following the COVID-19 guidelines.
Unfurling the tricolour PPT Chairman PL Haranadh said that PPT is determined to cross 115 MMT of cargo handling this fiscal like the last four years. Mentioning about few path braking decisions by the Union Government like Major Port Authorities Act notified on 3rd November 2021, he hoped that this would be a game-changer to the Port sector and take the sector to world class benchmark. “It will provide greater autonomy in decision making to the Major Ports and professionalize their governance,” he said.
The Union Government has recently launched the ‘PM Gati Shakti Master Plan’, at an estimated cost of Rs. 100 lakh crore for building ‘holistic infrastructure’ in India. Under Gati Shakti Master Plan, the Government will bring all infrastructure building ministries together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects. Similarly, the Government has unveiled a four-year ‘National Monetisation Pipeline’ on 23rd August 2021 which envisages engagement the private sector and tapping private sector efficiencies in operations and management of infrastructure.
Further, MoPSW has launched the Maritime Vision India, 2030 which envisages developing mega capacity ports of international standards, Port-led industrialization, initiatives to enhance Ease of Doing Business, transforming the ship building industry and development of the National Waterways.
With more than Rs.10,000 crore investment opportunity lined up, the Paradip Port is now the main driver for economic growth in the Paradip region, said the PPT Chairman, adding that projects worth over Rs.3500 crore have been implemented for Port modernization. Some of proposed projects include: Clean Cargo & Container Berth at an approximate cost of Rs.430 crore; Development of new Iron Ore Terminal at an approximate cost of Rs.740 crore; Mechanisation of 3 existing berths in the EQ for handling thermal coal exports at an approximate cost of Rs.1440 crore; Development of a New Coal Import Berth at an approximate cost of Rs.650 crore. Further, development of Western Dock at a cost of Rs.3005 crore has been approved by Government of India and is in tendering stage. On completion, this will transform the Port with facilities to handle Cape size vessels, informed Haranadh.
The Haridaspur-Paradip Railway line which has recently been completed, is a major game changer and makes Paradip Port very competitive in international trading. Similarly, the 8-laning of the Paradip-Barbil Road by NHAI will further improve the Road connectivity to the Port, he added.
Several initiatives have been taken by the Port under Port-led industrialization which include: Development of Multi Modal Logistics Park by CONCOR at an approximate cost of Rs.200 crore over 100 acres of land which envisages the development of around 1.1 million sq. ft of warehousing; Setting up of a Pellet Plant at an approximate cost of Rs.3000 crore; Development of Tank Terminal for Numaligarh Refinery Limited including laying of pipeline and transportation of crude at an approximate cost of Rs.1500 crore; and Setting up of a LPG Terminal at an approximate cost of Rs.692 crore;
For staff welfare, insurance coverage has been provided to over 900 employees and 800 contract workers giving coverage of Rs.5 lakh for natural death. Constructions of 147 residential quarters have been planned for accommodation of Port employees and other quarters will be also converted in phases.
For fishermen community, the Port has undertaken lighting of Fishery Harbour road and dredging of the navigational channel from Mahanadi River mouth. PPT plans to undertake the modernization and upgradation of fishing harbor at an investment of Rs. 100 crore under the PM Mastya Sampad Yojana.
