The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) has granted administrative approval for a sanction of Rs 50.30 crore for the development of an all-weather ROPAX (Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger) pier and allied infrastructure connecting Kaninali in Bhadrak district and Talachua in Kendrapara district, Odisha, under the Sagarmala initiative. The government of Odisha will fund an additional 50% cost for the project.
The total capital cost of the project is Rs 110.60 crore, which includes the construction of the RO-PAX pier at Kaninali and Talachua, utilities for infrastructure such as parking area development, navigation aids and dredging. This project will reduce the travel time for passengers from 6 hours by road to 1 hour by water. The development of the existing ghat with all-weather ROPAX piers is carried out with the intention of accommodating boats, launchers and other vessels, as well as having the capacity to carry 10 light motor vehicles, 20 motorcycles along with 60 passengers at a time, while ensuring the safety of all passengers and vehicles. The project will facilitate indirect employment opportunities for the local population around the Dhamra River and reduce the road distance of ~200 km from Talachua to Dhamra.
Kaninali in the Bhadrak district and Talachua in the Kendrapada district, are located on the northern and southern banks of the Dhamra River, respectively. The people of Talachua and nearby villages largely depend on the Dhamra port for their livelihood, which is about 4 km away from Kaninali Ghat. Since there is no connection through roads, locals depend on passenger ferries at ghats in Kaninali and Talachua to cross the river (a distance of 7 km). Currently, the number of passenger vehicles moves through private boats without safety, and passengers have difficulty boarding and disembarking from launches on a daily basis. This project will increase the safety of passengers and vehicles with state-of-the-art infrastructure. The connectivity will boost commercial and business activities and elevate the socio-economic status of the surrounding region.
