Chhatrapur: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday commissioned two more berths at the Gopalpur port and dedicated the port to the nation.
Addressing a gathering here, the CM said the inauguration of Berths No. 2 and 3 is a significant step in Odisha’s infrastructure development.
The commissioning of the two berths has increased the port’s cargo handling capacity from five million tonne per annum to 20 million tonne, and will create 8,000 new jobs. Earlier, the port had only one berth.
The two berths were built at a cost of Rs 1,400 crore. “Paradip Port was established due to Bijubabu’s efforts. Taking his vision further, the Gopalpur, Dhamra and Subarnarekha ports were established subsequently,” the CM said.
“A new chapter has been added to the history of Odisha. This port will play a crucial role in industrial development as well in boosting tourism,” the CM added.
Commerce and Transport Minister Nrushingha Charan Sahu, who also attended the function, said the port will be instrumental in developing Odisha as well as increasing the incomes of local people.
Pointing out that the port will be a deep water port, he said the government has been trying to make it an all weather port, and to increase its cargo handling capacity to 20 MLMT and 55 MLMT by 2025.
Gopalpur Port Managing Director Amit Sabu said that infrastructure giants like the Shapoorji Pallonji group will provide logistics services to customers at the port.
The Shapoorji Pallonji group became the principal stakeholder of the port in 2017 by investing Rs 2,000 crore for its expansion.
The government provided 393.670 acre to the group for developing the port which is strategically located between Paradip in the north and Visakhapatnam in the south.
Berhampur MP Siddhant Mahapatra, District Planning Committee chairman and Berhampur MLA Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik, Chhatrapur MLA Priyanshu Pradhan, Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi, State Planning Board Member Ramchandra Panda, Khalikote MLA Purna Chandra Sethy, G Srinivas, the Principal Secretary (Transport), CM’s private secretary V Kartikeyan Pandian, ADM Kabindra Kumar Sahu and Chhatrapur Sub-Collector Priya Ranjan Prusty attended the function.
Port CEO Capt. Sandip Agarwal proposed a vote of thanks.
