The State Government has decided to have a master plan for development of an industrial hub and township near the Dharmra port.
At a high level review meeting held here on Friday, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra directed to demarcate the high tide line through ground level resurvey of the costal regulation zone for protection of the eco-system of the port area while planning for the development.
The meeting was also joined by Principal Secretary Commerce and Transport Madhusudan Padhi and Chairman and Managiong Director IDCO Sanjay Singh among others.
The Chief Secretary directed the district Collector Bhadrak to protect the land adjoining the port for development of industrial hub and townships.
IDCO CMD Sanjay Singh advised to acquire the land and develop the sites for industrial use in coming years. Secretary Electronics and IT and Special Secretary Commerce and Transport Manoj Kumar Mishra appraised that Dhamra port was notified by the East Coast Railway in 2011 as a full rake handling point for both inward and outward traffic.
In the meanwhile, Dhamra Port Company Ltd (DPCL) has developed three new berths taking the total berths to five, he said.
The DPCL has also constructed 62.5 km of rail connectivity from Dhamara to Bhadrakh connecting the main Howrah-Chennai railway line, he added. DPCL Chief Executive Officer Subrat Tripathy apprised that there has been manifold increase in cargo handling from the Dhamra Port in last eleven years.
The total export and import cargo handling has increased from 5 MMT in the FY 2011-12 to 29.71 MMT in 2019-20. This year, the port has already handled 29.37 MMT cargo by February, 2021. The total cargo handling during the current FY is expected to cross 30.5 MMT, said Tripathy.
Chief Secretary Mahapatra also reviewed the progress of Goplapur Port on the east coast.
The port has resumed its operation from 2015 after necessary repairs and renovation. The port was severely affected by the cyclone Hudhud in the year 2014.
It has developed a stock yard of 2, 80,000 sqmt. Its berth No-2 is also being mechanised for easy import and export. The CEO of the port apprised that the mechanisation of the berth would be completed by March, 2021.
Presently, it has two operational railway siding. Construction of railway yard with four operational sidings has been expedited.
This would cater to multiple rake handling. Target was fixed to complete this by March, 2021. The Gopalpur port is now running on operational profit with annual handling of around 5 MMT cargo.
The port authorities were also advised to mobilise port-based industrial houses for developing industrial clusters near the ports.
Sources said these two ports are now providing daily employment to around 4,300 people in port operations, apart from their regular employees.
Source : Daily Pioneer
