Odisha Chief Secretary reviews operations and expansion plans at Paradip Port.
Photo Credit: PIB
New Delhi, February 13, 2026: Anu Garg, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Government of Odisha, visited the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) to conduct a comprehensive review of the port’s current operations and long-term expansion roadmap.
She was received at the wet basin by PPA Chairman P. L. Haranadh and accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by the CISF.
During the visit, the Chief Secretary undertook a launch ride to assess berth readiness, vessel traffic management systems, and ongoing marine operations.
Paradip Port has achieved record cargo handling of 150.41 million metric tonnes (MMT) in FY 2024-25, emerging as India’s No. 1 major port.
With a rated capacity of 289 MTPA, industry-leading productivity, and a provisional net surplus of Rs 1,860 crore, the port continues to set national benchmarks while maintaining the lowest vessel-and cargo-related charges among major ports.
The Chief Secretary outlined Odisha’s ambitious economic vision:
Interacting with senior officials, the Chief Secretary outlined Odisha’s ambitious economic vision, targeting a US$500 billion economy by 2036 and US$1.5 trillion by 2047.
Emphasizing Odisha’s long coastline as a strategic advantage, she stressed the need for sustained double-digit growth driven by exports, shipbuilding, and port-led development.
She highlighted the importance of the “Paradip Port 2.0” vision, which envisages expansion of port capacity to over 500 MTPA, deepening of the Western Dock, and development of a dedicated green hydrogen berth.
Discussions also covered the proposed 150 MTPA Bahuda Port in Gunjam district and a 1.2 million GT shipbuilding and ship-repair cluster north of the Mahanadi in Kendrapara district.
These projects are planned through a special purpose vehicle between the Odisha government and the Paradip Port Authority.
The proposal for the development of a cruise terminal at Puri was also discussed, with emphasis on prioritized implementation to boost tourism.
The Chief Secretary underscored the need for integrated development of Paradip, including industrial growth in the PCPIR, Plastic Park, AMNS facilities, and the Green Hydrogen Hub, supported by industrial townships, housing, tourism infrastructure, and modern urban amenities. Planned land use, strong law and order, and inclusive public infrastructure were highlighted as key enablers.
Referring to Odisha’s strong fiscal position and high capital expenditure allocation, she called for diversification beyond mining into sectors such as shipbuilding, renewable energy, rare-earth processing, aerospace, apparel, tourism, and cruise development to ensure sustainable long-term growth.
The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of the state government and PPA to transform Paradip into a globally competitive maritime gateway and a key driver of Odisha’s economic and maritime future.
Expert’s opinion:
The J. Sonal, IAS, District Collector and Magistrate of Jagatsinghpur, and Ankit Kumar Verma, IPS, Superintendent of Police, were present on the occasion. T. Venu Gopal, Vice Chairman of the Paradip Port Authority, also participated in the discussions along with senior port officials.
EOM.
