Odisha signs Rs 46,200 crore maritime infrastructure deals

Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt on Friday signed two separate maritime infrastructure deals with projected investment of Rs 46,200 crore at a maritime event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat.Odisha Maritime Board (OMB) and Paradip Port Authority (PPA) signed a MoU to develop a large-scale shipbuilding cluster at an estimated investment of Rs 24,700 crore in Kendrapada district, a govt statement said. Similarly, OMB, PPA and Sagarmala Finance Corporation signed another deal for the Bahuda satellite port in Ganjam district at an investment of Rs 21,500 crore.The proposed shipbuilding cluster will be located on the Mahanadi riverbank in Kendrapada district opposite the IFFCO plant in Paradip at an estimated cost of Rs 24,700 crore.The project aims to create a fully integrated ecosystem, featuring one or more large shipyards with a combined capacity of 1-1.2 million gross tonnage (GT) per year. Key components of the planned cluster include a dedicated waterfront of 2-2.5 km and a land area of 2,000-2,500 acres.Space for ancillary industries like engine manufacturing, steel fabrication and equipment suppliers will come up to support the shipbuilding process. Common infrastructure, including administrative offices, training centres and research and development facilities will also be added, the statement added.The PPA and OMB will collaborate on developing the necessary land-side and river-side infrastructure to fast-track the project. This cluster-based approach is designed to attract investment, enhance competitiveness and drive sustainable growth in India’s commercial shipbuilding capacity, the govt statement said.