Dhamara and Gopalpur Ports turned out to the largest deep ports where the Odisha government’s aspiration of mass employment generation through port-led growth will be executed soon.
According to the report, Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra discussed the state of development projects at Dhamra and Gopalpur port with the senior officials in a meeting. Madhusudan Padhi, the Principal Secretary of Commerce and Transport discussed the subjects which are associated with the development of port facilities on the east coast.
The report further informed that the Bhadrak Collector was directed to protect the land abutting the ports for the development of industrial hubs and townships along with IDCO Chairman Sanjay Singh who was recommended to acquire the land and develop the sites for industrial use in coming years.
All the directions made to the officials were issued to differentiate the high tide line ground level re-survey of the coastal regulation zone for the protection of the eco-system while planning for the development.
As per the report Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra stated that with the quantitative and qualitative growth of Dhamara port, railway, and road connectivity and coming in of the LNG Tank near the port.
He also reviewed the progress of Gopalpur port on the east coast which has recommenced its operation in 2015 after necessary repairs and renovation. The port was critically impaired by the cyclone Hudhud in the year 2014 and has acquired a stockyard of 2,80,000 sq mt with its berth No-2 is also being mechanized for straightforward import and export.
In the meanwhile, Dhamara Port Company Ltd (DPCL) has developed three new berths taking the total berths to five. DPCL has also constructed 62.5 km of rail connectivity from Dhamara to Bhadrakh connecting the main Howrah-Chennai railway line.
In the meeting issues like widening of road existing road connectivity, additional land required for port expansion, construction airstrip at Dhamara, development of the industrial park, development of the economic corridor, etc were discussed and resolved. These two ports are now providing daily employment to around 4,300 people in port operations apart from their regular employees.
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