Bhubaneswar, March 27: Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) will develop a Rs 107-crore mega seafood park in Deras on the city's outskirts.

This will host the ventures of between 30 and 35 entrepreneurs at a time, generating employment for over 10,000 people. The project will be ready in two years.

The 100-acre facility will come up under the guidance of Union ministry of food processing industries. The Centre is likely to provide a financial assistance of Rs 50 crore for the project.

Deras is considered an ideal location for the park because of its proximity to Bhubaneswar, which will help it tap the necessary work force for the purposes. Besides, the existence of an international airport nearby would ensure good logistic support for the venture.

Deras is already in focus following the establishment of a centre for excellence by the horticulture directorate of the Odisha government over 25 acres with assistance from Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana at a cost of Rs 18 crore.

Saswat Patnaik, who heads the project management unit (PMU) of Idco, said: 'Plots will be made available in the mega seafood park on lease with power, water and effluent treatment facilities. Facilities such as pre-processing centres, cold storage, packaging units, testing and quality control laboratories, polythene units, laundry unit, dormitory, administrative unit and annex building will be provided.'

Recognised for its prawn and fish varieties, Odisha's aquatic products, mainly from the brackish water Chilika lake, is expected to attract many buyers. The Chilika Fresh outlet near Siripur Market in the city is already a big hit.

'Entrepreneurs from marine or aquaculture fields can also use their space in the facility so that better food processing activities can ensure quality products and also more earning,' said Sanjay Nayak, an entrepreneur.

Patnaik said a special purpose vehicle would be formed at a suitable date for the execution of project. While preparation of the master plan of the area and related topographical studies have been completed, detailed engineering, drawing and estimations were under way. Approach roads, water and power supply would be ready in six months.

Micro, small and medium enterprises secretary Panchanan Das said: 'Our department will contribute Rs 15 crore to the project. We are already discussing it with entrepreneurs who would be interested in the project.'

A senior Idco official said the seafood park in Deras would work as a hub that would have both backward (with the production centres) and forward (marketing and export) linkages so that the farmers are encouraged in marine and aquaculture production.

This is for the first time the Centre has facilitated state-managed agencies to invest and develop mega seafood parks and Deras has been chosen for the purpose.

In Odisha, another proposed mega seafood park at Huma in Ganjam district was rejected by the inter-ministerial approval committee as the consortium had no ownership over the land where the park was proposed to be set up.