Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Maritime Board has stressed the need for coordinated measures to strengthen the state’s maritime economy through optimal utilisation of maritime resources, expansion of port infrastructure, shipbuilding, cargo transportation and cruise tourism.
The emphasis was laid at a high-level meeting of the board chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg Saturday, which reviewed the progress of various maritime projects and measures for integrated development of the sector.
The meeting discussed expansion of port infrastructure, inland waterway connectivity, port development and strengthening of the board’s human resources.
It also reviewed the progress of the proposed large shipbuilding cluster at Mahaka lapada in Kendrapada district.
The meeting considered a proposal to construct an about 4.5-km-long, four-lane greenfield road connecting NH-16 near Chhatrapur with Gopalpur Port in view of rising cargo traffic at the port.
The project is proposed to be taken up jointly by the National Highways Authority of India, the state Works Department and Gopalpur Port authorities.
Development of container terminals at Dhamra and Gopalpur ports was also discussed.
Land will be identified for container freight stations, customs-controlled areas and multimodal logistics centres to facilitate export-import trade and enhance cargo-handling capacity.
The meeting also reviewed the proposed international cruise terminal near Puri and considered preparation of GIS-based maps to identify newly emerged coastal land near ports and proposed maritime projects, besides creation of a strategic maritime land bank.
The meeting also discussed the proposed merger of the Directorate of Ports and Inland Water Transport with the Odisha Maritime Board and a new organisational structure to streamline its functioning.
Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary Shubha Sharma, Principal Secretary NBS Rajput, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Balwant Singh, Principal Secretary Pabitra Mohan Samal and other senior officials attended the meeting.