Bhubaneswar, April 1: A special investment region will come up near Dhamra port to facilitate port-based industries in the state.

The Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) will create infrastructure to promote the industries. Minister of industries Niranjan Pujari said: “Idco is planning to set up a special investment region near Dhamra port.”

An official said process had been initiated to set up the region near the port. The region will come up under Chandabali tehsil. “Around 43 villages will come under the proposed region. The area has been declared lease-barred,” he said.

Once an area is declared as lease-barred, no land will be given to any private or any government agency for any purpose on a lease without the necessary permission from the highest level of the government.

Similarly, steps are also being taken to set up an industrial town at Ormal and Sompatia village near the port. “Besides, we have a plan to set up a container depot at Charampa across 59 acres near Bhadrak, around 50km from Dhamra,” another official said. The area has already been connected with the railway network from the port.

Keeping in mind Posco’s upcoming eight million tonnes steel project at Dhinkia near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district, Idco has planned to promote ancillary and downstream industries both in Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts.

“We have already acquired nearly 504.53 acres at Siju to promote ancillary and downstream industries. Besides, 789.27 acres have been earmarked at Pratapur to set up an industrial township. Once Posco comes up, a number of ancillary and downstream industries will also be set up. A wide range of employment will be created for local people,” said an official.

Steps have also been taken up to set up the Centre’s Rs 2.74-lakh crore worth Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region project at Paradip. Indian Oil is acting as the anchor tenant of the mega venture.

“The process has been initiated to acquire 73,422.18 acres at 20 villages under Marshaghai tehsil for this purpose,” he said.

Though no land has been given through Idco to promote port-based industries in Ganjam district, process has been initiated to set up Gopalpur Industrial Park near Gopalpur port.

Around 2,775.394 acres have been handed over to Tata Steel. Besides, 233 acres have been handed over to Saraf Agency Private limited to set up the Titanium industry. Significantly, the all-weather Gopalpur port in Ganjam district is now open for commercial tariff and first ship is expected to arrive by April 10.