Dhamra a successful example of PPP: CM

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday dedicated Dhamra port's second-phase expansion projects to the nation and said it was a successful example of public-private-partnership.

The new facilities include two special bulk cargo berths, fertiliser cargo complex and a barge berth complex.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), the country's largest port developer and part of the Adani Group, is developing the port on the build, own, operate, share and transfer basis for a period of 34 years. The port serves as a gateway to Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and the entire geopolitical area, including the ASEAN region.

Terming it as one of the best projects in the PPP mode in the country, Naveen said: "Dhamra port is a model of modern maritime trade in Odisha and a successful example of public-private partnership. The industrial park being set up by the Adani Group will unleash large-scale industrialisation in the area and create employment opportunities."

Naveen hinted at his government's plan to set up an industrial park on 700 acres in the area. "The aim of my government is to set up an industrial park at Dhamra. It will bring more investments to the state," he said.

The chief minister laid the foundation stone for the Adani Skill Development Centre and assured the group that its proposal to develop an airstrip at Dhamra was under the active consideration of the state government. Naveen also reminisced how Paradip port established with the initiative of Biju Patnaik in 1960s had turned into a major port in the country. "Biju babu had started Paradip port in the 1960s. Today, Paradip is the country's second largest port. I am happy to note that Dhamra port is surging ahead in this path," he said.

Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani said: "The phase-II expansion of Dhamra port will not only make Dhamra as India's largest port, but also serve as the country's major gateway for trade with the southeast Asian nations."

APSEZ's CEO Karan Adani said: "This expansion will help us achieve our vision of having cargo-handling capacity of 200 million metric tonnes (MMT) by 2020, well ahead of time, and we now aim to touch 500MMT by 2025."

BJD leaders, including the state's commerce and transport minister Nrusingha Charan Sahoo, women and child development minister Prafulla Samal, Bhadrak MP Arjun Charan Sethi attended the programme. In July last year, BJD leaders, including the chief minister, had stayed away from the ground-breaking ceremony of the Rs 6,000-crore liquefied natural gas re-gasification terminal project at Dhamra. The project is a joint venture of Gas Authority of India Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited and the Adani Group.