Odisha has become a key growth zone for port-led infrastructure development, with 58 projects worth more than Rs 56,350 crore sanctioned, ongoing or identified under the Centre’s Sagarmala programme, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal told the Rajya Sabha this week.
Responding to a question from BJD MP Sasmit Patra, Sonowal said six projects worth Rs 350 crore have received Sagarmala funding, while 52 additional projects worth around Rs 56,000 crore are being executed by agencies including Paradip Port Authority, state government departments, Indian Railways, NHAI and CONCOR. Together, these initiatives are expected to add nearly 83 million tonnes per annum in cargo handling capacity.
The Sagarmala-funded projects include Ro-Pax jetty links connecting Kaninali-Talchua and Balugaon-Krishnaprasad Gada, modernisation of Paradip’s fishing harbour, a new fishing harbour at Chandipur, and two skill development initiatives under DDU-GKY, most slated for completion by end of 2026.
The wider project pipeline centres on Paradip, Dhamra, Gopalpur, Astaranga and Subarnarekha ports, covering rail, road, logistics and port infrastructure. Completed works include the Paradip multi-modal logistics park and Haridaspur-Paradip rail link, while major ongoing projects include the Rs 7,600 crore Paradip smart industrial port city, Rs 3,005 crore Paradip inner harbour upgrade, and the Rs 4,695 crore Bhadrak-Vizianagaram third rail line.
Sonowal also confirmed National Waterway-5, linking Talcher and Angul with Kalinganagar and the Paradip and Dhamra ports, is in the approval stage and expected to be operational within five years. The initiatives are projected to generate over 25,000 direct and indirect jobs, with coastal skilling programmes underway alongside DDU-GKY.
