Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Today, Bhoomi Puja was performed by Jindal Steel & Power (JSP) chairman Naveen Jindal to kick off construction on the Western Dock of the Paradip Port. Senior port officials were in attendance, including the chairman of PL Haranadh’s Paradip Port and IRTS. The construction of a dry bulk cargo terminal with a capacity of 25 million tonnes (MT) at the western dock of Paradip Port was awarded to a consortium led by JSP last year. Leading steel producers Jindal Steel & Power and Jindal Port Private have formed a special purpose vehicle, Jindal Paradip Port Limited (JPPL), for this project.
On October 17, 2023, at the third Global Maritime Summit 2023 in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the cornerstone for the development of Western Dock. “The most cutting-edge terminal, the new Western Dock, will be built to significantly improve the capacity of large industries in Odisha’s hinterlands to grow and operate today. According to Jindal, there will be a notable increase in employment and economic activity in Odisha and beyond.
About Rs 3,392 crore will be invested by JPPL in the development of the Paradip Port’s western dock. Early in 2025 is when the project’s first phase, with a capacity of 12.5 MTPA, is anticipated to go online.
