Bhubaneswar: Paradip Port Authority (PPA) has set a target of handling more than 170 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in 2026-27, aiming to build on its record throughput of 156.45 MMT achieved in the previous financial year, PPA Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit said Thursday.
Addressing an interactive meeting with members of the Paradip Port Stevedores Association in the presence of heads of departments, Purohit stressed the need for collective action to achieve the ambitious cargo-handling target and sustain the port’s growth as a leading maritime hub on India’s eastern coast.
He called for coordinated efforts by port officials, stevedores and other stakeholders to accelerate cargo handling, improve operational efficiency and strengthen the port’s competitiveness amid global economic uncertainties and growing regional competition.
The meeting focused on resolving operational bottlenecks, upgrading infrastructure, improving cargo movement and strengthening coordination between the port administration and stevedores. Purohit emphasised the need to address key operational challenges, including dredging requirements, traffic management and other issues affecting the smooth movement of cargo.
He also called for harmonious industrial relations, greater responsiveness to stakeholders and the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices, including green energy initiatives. Responding to concerns raised by the stevedores’ association, the port administration outlined infrastructure improvement measures aimed at facilitating smoother cargo movement and improving working conditions.
These include upgrading roads within and outside the port premises, developing adequate cargo-stacking areas and improving paved surfaces to ensure seamless transportation and minimise waterlogging.
The chairperson underscored the importance of developing a dynamic and inclusive port ecosystem that promotes mechanisation and modernisation while protecting the legitimate business interests of traditional stevedores.
The meeting also stressed effective coordination among the Paradip Port Authority, public-private partnership (PPP) operators and stevedores to integrate operations smoothly, expand business opportunities and ensure sustainable growth across the port’s cargo-handling ecosystem.
