Gopalpur Port to start cargo handling from next year

The proposed all weather Gopalpur Port is expected to start cargo handling from its newly constructed berths from 2013 with construction of three berths - one for coal, one for iron and a multipurpose one. It was declared during a review meeting regarding the progress of the project. This meeting was attended by State Minister for Commerce and Transport Sanjeeb Kumar Sahu, Secretary of the Department Gagan Dhal, director of Ports and Inland Waterways and Transport, Subrat Raut, administrative officials of Ganjam district including Collector Kishen Kumar, Managing Director of Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL) Mahimananda Mishra, directors of GPL Charchit Mishra and M.M.Moharana. The State Minister and dignitaries visited the construction site of the port. They also visited the breakwaters being constructed for the all weather port. It may be noted that the GPL has constructed one 670-meter-long backwater to the south of the port as well as another 360 meter-long intermediary breakwater.

The state government on this occasion promised to provide land needed for the expansion of the Gopalpur port. "We will provide the required land to Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL) very soon for the expansion and development of the all weather direct berthing port," said state transport and commerce minister Sanjiv Sahu, after the review. The GPL requires around 783 acres of land for its phase-II and stage-I construction, which is scheduled to be completed by March next year. While around 393.67 acres of land has already been handed over to the GPL, the remaining portion, including 130 acre private land, will be acquired soon. "We hope the land handover process will be completed very soon to pave way for the construction of the port," the minister said.