Dikhyaa Mohanty 
On Wednesday, November 5, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the construction of a shipbuilding and repair facility at the mouth of the Mahanadi river in Paradip and a new port at Bahuda in Ganjam district. Together, these projects will draw investments totaling more than Rs 46,000 crore. The news was made at the port town’s customary “Boita Bandana Utsav” and celebrations commemorating Paradip Port’s founding day.
In order to establish Odisha as a major center for commerce, tourism, and coastal development, Majhi also unveiled plans for a top-notch cruise terminal in Puri. With an investment of Rs 21,500 crore, the state government and the Paradip Port Authority are working together to build a sizable port in Bahuda in the Ganjam district.
“A world-class cruise terminal will be built in Puri, and a shipbuilding and repair center will be established at the mouth of the Mahanadi near Paradip at an investment of Rs 24,700 crore,” he stated.
The Chief Minister stated that these initiatives will boost Odisha’s industrial, commerce, and tourist sectors and bolster the coastal economy of the state. With its cargo handling capacity growing from 71 million tonnes in 2015 to 150 million tonnes by 2025, Paradip Port has been acknowledged as the best big port in India, Majhi added, praising the facility’s contribution to Odisha’s economic development. The port is anticipated to achieve 300 million tonnes under the “Maritime India Vision 2030” and 500 million tonnes by 2047 under the “Developed India” plan.
Along with initiatives to create Coastal Economic Zones, the Chief Minister also emphasized how the state’s port-led growth aligns with the National Logistics Policy, Gati Shakti, and Sagarmala policies of the federal government. Later, Majhi opened the upscale Mayfair Hotels and Resorts in Paradip, which has 140 rooms, three dining options, and 16,000 square feet of event space.
