PPT seeks satellite port near Gopalpur

BERHAMPUR: Chairman of Paradip Port Trust (PPT) G Jagannath Rao revealed that the PPT has sent a proposal for construction of a satellite port at the Bahuda Mouth (Muhan) near the existing Gopalpur Port. This place is having adequate sea face and 2,000 acres of Government land that can help the growing Paradip Port accommodate its future additional cargoes to be handled by the Paradip Port, Rao told reporters. Many major ports of the country have approached the Union Shipping Ministry for construction of satellite ports in view of the choking of the existing ports with cargoes and having inadequate hinterlands. The Paradip Port is also facing the same kind of situation having inadequate lands for storage of cargoes and creating more berths, Rao pointed out.

Of late, the PPT chairman has offered Posco to utilise the Paradip Port for handling their future imports and exports instead of the South Korean company’s proposed captive port at Jatadhari Mouth near Paradip which is yet to be approved by the State Government. A six-member committee comprising three each from the PPT and Posco will commence its joint survey of the Paradip Port from the first week of April for utilisation of the available facilities in the port. In case Posco is satisfied with the facility of the Paradip Port, it would use port for cargo imports and exports which would add to the volume of cargo handling by the PPT. The present trend of reduction of cargo volume of the Paradip Port is a matter of concern because of the sharp fall of export of iron ore from all Indian ports, including Paradip.

Source: The Pioneer