India's Paradip port to boost capacity threefold by 2025

Bhubaneswar - Port set to be growth engine of eastern India

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari said Paradip port's cargo handling capacity would be increased to 325 million tonnes per annum by 2025.
"The production of Paradip port would be increased threefold by 2025. Work is going on to achieve the target," he told the media here.
He said Paradip port will be the growth engine of eastern India. He also said the government is taking steps to increase the coal production of Mahanadi Coal Fields from 60 million tonnes to 300 million tonnes. "The coal would be transported through waterways to other states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. In return, the ships would bring lime stones for steel projects," the minister said.
If coal is transported through waterways, electricity charges would cost Rs1 less per unit, he added. He also said infrastructure is being developed for the smooth transportation of coal.
Gadkari said the government is committed to bring down the high logistics cost to 12 per cent and raise the share of waterways transportation to 15 per cent in coming years.
He said the country's logistics cost is presently at 18 per cent.
The minister said the government is also giving priority for development of national highways. "We are giving priority to Odisha. We have already created 1,300 km NH while we will try to increase it to 2,000 km," said the minister.
Replying to the allegations that several illegal toll gates have been erected in the state, he said there are no illegal toll gates in the state. "The Odisha Chief Secretary has already made it clear that there are no illegal toll gates in the state," he added.

• Infrastructure
• India