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23rd All India Major Port Cultural Meet 2023-24 begins at Jayadev Sadan, PPA.

                                                                      
                 23^rd  All India Major Port Cultural Meet commenced with 10 Major Ports at Jayadev Sadan. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman Paradip Port inaugurated the event. Teams will perform in Drama, Dance Choreography, Classical & Light Vocal and instrumental. The meet ends on 10th December.

            Paradip Port Authority along with Major Ports Sports Control Board is organising 23rd All India Major Port Cultural Meet 2023-24 at Jayadev Sadan. Gracing the inaugural function as Chief Guest, Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA inaugurated the cultural extravaganza and said that the Cultural Meet has provided an opportunity for congregation of diversity of the Country in the Paradip Port township. It will enable participants to develop new relationships, enjoy performances and showcase talents.  Guest of Honour, Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta, Dy Chairman, PPA said that during cultural performances, the stage reflect the soul of the society.  Smt. P. Girija Sundari, President, Paradip Ladies Club was also present on the occasion. Around 200 participants from 10 Major Ports across the country are participating in the cultural meet, which will come to an end on 10th December. Shri D.N. Sondhi, Chairman, Organising Committee presided over the inaugural proceedings. Dr. D.P Sethi, Secretary, organising committee also spoke on the occasion. Shri Ranjan Rashmi Beura, Jt. Secretary, organising committee compeered the programme. All the Major Ports are competing in categories like Classical Vocal, Light Vocal, Instrumental, Dance and Drama. This evening, inaugural performance will be made by Visakhapatnam Port Authority followed by DPA, Kandla.

International Day of Persons With Disabilities observed by PPA.

Paradip Port Authority organised an event at PPA Administrative Building on the occasion of International Day of Persons With Disabilities. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri P.L. Haranadh  saluted the spirit of determination of the school children and mentioned that PPA would take necessary steps within its ambit for the all-round development of the school. Dr. P N Bahekar, Secretary, PPA, Capt. Alekh Sahoo, DC, PPA were also present.
Chairman, PPA announced Rs 25,000/- financial assistance to Ms. Laxmi Singh, student of Class X in Jagruty school, who recently participated in the Indian blind & para Judo championship held at Amritsar. He also distributed gifts to the differently-abled employees of Paradip Port Authority. Smt. P. Girija Sundari, President, Paradip Ladies Club presented school kits to the Children of Jagruty. Paradip Ladies Club led the monetary assistance to the school.

India re-elected to International Maritime Organisation with highest vote tally.

India comes under the Category of 10 states with "the largest interest in international seaborne trade".The term of Council will be for the biennium 2024-25 With the efforts put-in by MoPSW under the leadership of PM Modi the highest votes are indicative of the government's determination to strengthen India's varied contributions to international maritime operations: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.
In a continuous service at IMO India has sustained a proud and unbroken record in category B

In elections held at its assembly on Friday for the 2024–25 biennium, India was re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council with the highest tally. India's re-election falls under the Category of 10 states with "the largest interest in international seaborne trade", alongside Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Ministry has made every possible effort under the leadership of PM Modi. We are delighted and humbled by the support of the international community at the International Maritime Organisation for India. The highest votes are indicative of the government's determination to strengthen India's varied contributions to international maritime operations.
India secured the large-scale support of the international community at the International Maritime Organisation for India to continue to serve the global maritime domain. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is the leading authority that regulates the maritime industry, which supports global trade, transportation, and all marine operations.

Indian delegation was led by Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and waterways Shri T.K Ramachandaran, with Members including DG Shipping Shri Shyam Jagannathan, officers of DGS, High Commission of India at London and industry representatives.
The council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the assembly, for supervising the work of the organization. Between sessions of the assembly, the council performs the functions of the assembly, except that of making recommendations to governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.

Under the MIV 2030 to enhance representation at IMO India aims at appointing permanent representatives at IMO London. With a view to enhance and garner maritime expertise for India, it is proposed that India should nominate at least 2 qualified candidates for the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Program at the IMO. The JPO Program is an established program within the United Nations with the main objective of providing young professionals an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in international cooperation under the supervision of specialists and to contribute to the advancement of their nation’s mandate.
The council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the assembly, for supervising the work of the organization. Between sessions of the assembly, the council performs the functions of the assembly, except that of making recommendations to governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.

WORLD AIDS DAY observed at PPA Hospital.

                                                                      
The World AIDS Day was observed at PPA Hospital with the theme "Let Communities Lead”. On this occasion, a walkathon as a part of IEC activity was organised to create awareness about AIDS among the denizens of the Port Township starting at PPA Hospital and ending at the Officers Club. Chairman, PPA Shri P L Haranadh administered the Pledge on the occasion to the gathering and flagged off the Walkathon.  Doctors, paramedical staff of the PPA Hospital along with HoDs of the PPA, commandant CISF with his staff, Volunteers of Paradip Sakhyarata Samiti, volunteers of NGOs (IRDMS & CASD)  working on AIDS, transgender, and general public participated with enthusiasm. The walkathon culminated at Officers Club. All the staff of PPA Hospital, Saksharata Samiti and Volunteers wore symbolic red ribbons to commemorate the occasion.

          Further, a screening camp for Truckers was organised at Gate No. 3 in association with CASD/IRDMS. By the time of reporting 63 people were screened, and none was found positive for AIDS. The test kits were provided by OSACS. PPA HOSPITAL regularly screens for HIV/AIDS as an obligation under the MOU, "Mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS at Major Ports" signed with NACO & MoHFW.

Bulk Cargo Transshipment Hub to be Developed in Atlanta Bay.

·        Shri SarbanandaSonowalvisited proposed site of Major Harbour at Atlanta Bay, in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

·        Indira Point, to be developed as aMajor Tourism Destination with all required tourism facilities.

·        It will reduce travel time from 72 hours to 15 hours between Andaman and Kolkata.

·      ‘Under the leadership of PM Modi the proposed projects in Andaman & Nicobar would catalyze the development process in the region’: Shri SarbanandaSonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW.

New Delhi, 24^rd November 2023: Today, Shri SarbanandaSonowal, Union Minister, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways wrapped up his two day visit of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by visitingAtlanta Bay near Diglipur in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Currently a jetty with 5 m draft is serving for berthing of inter-island vessels of 4.00m draft. Considering the strategic location and other facilities available, a Bulk Cargo transshipment hub can be developed in Atlanta Bay. The feasibility study for developing Atlanta bay major Harbour is under process.

The Atlanta bay has a natural draft of 19/20 and is just 50m distance in sea. There is availability of Natural break and is well connected by road. Also, sufficient land can be reclaimed from the sea. This transshipment hub is on the route from East & NE India to East & SE Asia, Australia-New Zealand countries.It is also on the route, of Coal, Sand & others construction materials, Iron ore etc., to Bangladesh and Myanmar. Once operationalized, the Bulk Cargo Transshipment Port will be economically beneficial for our country as well as to our neighbors. The proposed port is 565 Km from Yangoon; 765 Km from Sittwe; 1000 Km from Chittagong; 1100 Km from Kolkata; 1000 km from Barisal and 80Km from the Coco Island (the Chinese Defense base).

Considering its strategic location, in the northern side of A&N Islands, a 10mtr draft harbour is essential to promote high-end tourismandother essential purposes. Once developed the people of north & middle Andaman will be beneficial and the travel time between major ports at Andaman and Kolkata will be reduced from 72 hours to 15 hours.

Yesterday, Shri SarbanandaSonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW took an aerial survey of International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP) a Sagarmala Project being developed at Galathea Bay and interacted with the various stakeholders, local residents and representatives. He also visited the Indira Point, the southernmost point of India's territoryat Great Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and directed the concerned officials to explore the possibility of developing the Indira Point area as a tourism destination and develop required tourism amenities and facilities for the same.

In Great Nicobar Island he also visited Campbell Bay and reviewed the progress of the Berthing Jetty Extension project and later in the evening, he reviewed the various works done by ALHW at Port Blair and appreciated the work done in the Andaman&Nicorbar Islands by them over last 5 decades. During the review Hon’ble Minister also advised ALHW to explore reputed construction firms to work in the Islands for completing the projects in time.

He expressed satisfaction and called upon all concerned to expedite implementation of the on-going projects for islanders’ benefits. He stated that, ‘Under the leadership of PM Modi the proposed projects in Andaman & Nicobar would catalyze the development in the region. This can lead to inclusive growth and play a key role in improving the livelihoods of the populations with the transportation of goods and passengers’. During the review meeting at Port Blair today, he also directed the officials to take up the work of development of Indira Point as a major tourist destination with all required facilities.

There are 58 projects worth Rs. 7,622 Crores in Andaman and Nicobar are being monitored under Sagarmala programme. 15 projects worth Rs. 469 Crores are being funded under Sagarmala and Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS). All projects are being implemented by ALHW.  8 projects worth ~ Rs. 211 Crores are funded by Sagarmala; 4 projects worth Rs. 216 Crores are funded under CSS and 3 projects worth ~ Rs. 42 Cr are funded by MoCA.  One project worth ~ Rs. 13.5 Crores is completed; 4 projects worth Rs. 173 Cr. are under implementation; one project worth Rs. 26 Cr. is under tendering and 9 projects worth ~ Rs. 256 Crores are under development.

Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works (ALHW), under the Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways in developing Marine infrastructure in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands for more than 50 years now. ALHW has planned the Port Infrastructure required to develop these Islands to meet the growing demand, designed and constructed the marine structures like Break Waters, Major Wharf, Jetties, Vehicle Ferry Ramp, HDPE Floating Jetties, Fish landing Centers, Dry Docks with afloat repair berths, Slipway and many more in different Islands. Apart from these, Shore protection works, Dredging, Roads & Bridges, and Port Terminal Buildings are fewer among the deposit works carried out in these Islands. ALHW also provides technical support to local Port departments for port operations.

With the initiative marked in Maritime India Vision 2030 it is planned to develop Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) islands and Lakshadweep Islands for tourism and other initiatives. Initially, development plans have been focused on job creation for locals through tourism promotion and export of locally made seafood and coconut-based products. In the first phase, these plans are being implemented in four islands of Andaman & Nicobar and five islands of Lakshadweep. In the second phase, suitable sites in 12 more islands of Andaman & Nicobar and 5 islands in Lakshadweep will be covered.

In AmritKaal Vision 2047 under Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Island development will be a key focus for coming years. The 26 islands that have been shortlisted to be developed over the next decade are in the Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the State of Gujarat. The themes such as development of eco-tourism facilities, ship repair, seaplane building and repair, maritime training institute, Free Trade Zones and bunkering terminals that are proposed to be developed. The development of these themes can then be further expanded to other islands to unlock the entire potential of all the islands in the country.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal visited Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar Island.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal visited Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar Island and reviewed the progress of proposed International Container Transhipment Port

·  ICTP will be a shining example of new India as envisaged by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in Maritime Amritkal Vision 2047

·  The DPR of the project is under finalization and the tenders for construction of the project will be invited at the beginning of the next year.

·   With an estimated costof about ₹44,000 Crores ICTP will play a crucial for the economic and infrastructural development of the region

·   ICTP will be a major landmark in developing India to become a self-assured and self-reliant Nation and will support the economic development of the country as envisaged by our visionary Prime Minister Shri  Narendra Modi ji: Shri SarbanandaSonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW

New Delhi, 23rd November 2023: Today, Shri SarbanandaSonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW visited the site of the proposed International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP), at Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar Island and reviewed its progress with the senior officials. As envisaged in the Maritime India vision 2030 as well as one of the key projects in the Amritkaal Vision 2047, the proposed International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) project has reached significant milestones, solidifying its position as a transformative initiative with a total estimated cost of about ₹44,000 Crores. The project is strategically important for the country and crucial for the economic and infrastructural development of the entire region, has garnered key approvals and support from government bodies.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) granted environmental clearance on November 11, 2022. Additionally, stage 1 forest clearance has been obtained. Also, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has granted "In-Principle" approval for the holistic development of the Great Nicobar Island and the DPR of the ICTP project is under finalization. It is planned to invited the tenders for the construction of the first phase of the project in early next year, after due approvals and concurrences.

The development of this Mega Container Terminal is a part of the holistic development of Great Nicobar Island. The project focuses on three key drivers, which can result in making it a leading container transshipment port, i.e. strategic location in terms of proximity (40 nautical miles) with the International shipping trade route, availability of natural water depth of over 20m and carrying capacity of transshipment cargo from all the Ports in the proximity including Indian Ports.

After his aerial visit of the site,Shri Sonowal also interacted with the local residents and representatives of all the stakeholders at the island and had a detailed review meeting of the proposed methodology of the implementation of the project and its timelines.

After reviewing the project the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, Waterways and AYUSH, Shri SarbanandaSonowalsaid, “This project will be a major landmark in developing India to become a self-assured and self-reliant Nation and will support the economic development of the country. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is continuously striving to fulfill the grand vision of making a New India as envisaged by our visionary Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji.”

The flagship programSagarmala under MoPSW aims to modernize, mechanize, and enhance capacity of existing ports, making them more efficient and environment friendly. Upgrading & unlocking capacity at major & non-major ports is critical for supporting economic activities in the hinterland since ports serve as a vital link between sea and land transit. In the last 9 years under Port modernization, 94 Projects worth Rs. 31,129 Cr. have been completed, resulting in capacity addition of more than 230 MTPA. In terms of engaging the private sector, 21 projects worth more than Rs. 23,000 Cr. have been successfully operationalizedunder PPP, since 2014, indicating the considerable progress made in leveraging public-private partnerships.

India has a significant potential to set-up mega ports and compete with global ports. There are four key intervention areas highlighted under Maritime India Vision 2030, which include capacity augmentation; developing world-class Mega Ports; development of transshipment hubs in Southern India; and infrastructure modernization. Currently, India has 5 Major Ports and 2 Non-Major Ports with greater than 100 MTPA capacities. With this, there is a significant opportunity for India to set up Mega Ports and compete with global ports. Based on detailed evaluation across key criteria for Mega Ports and emerging growth potential of clusters, 3 Mega Ports - Vadhavan-JNPT Cluster, Paradip Port, and Deendayal Port have been identified to be developed into Mega Ports with >300 M TPA capacity.

The infrastructure initiatives marked in AmritKaal Vision 2047 focus upon development of four port clusters with capacity of >300 MTPA and 2 port clusters with capacity >500 MTPA.   In addition to creating port clusters around the existing major ports, 2 new major ports – Vadhavan and Galathea Bay port are envisaged to be developed.

Vadhavan has a natural draft of about 20 meter and is therefore well suited for accommodating larger ships. Development of this port will enable cargo container vessels of 16,000-25,000 TEUs capacity. Similarly, proposedGalathea Bay Port, due to its strategic location in proximity to the East-West world-shipping corridor, is suitable to attract both gateway and transshipped cargo.

Ports in the country would also need to have higher draft available to accommodate larger vessels.  Out of five ports from eight namely DPA, Vadhavan, VoCPA, Galathea Bay and PPA to have draft in the range of 18 meters to 23 meters by 2030. Further, 3 ports NMPA, CoPA and JNPA would be drafted in the range of 20 meters to 23 meters by 2047 in order to align with global standards.

Currently, nearly 75% of India’s transshipped cargo is handled at ports outside India. Colombo, Singapore and Klang handle more than 85% of this cargo with 45% of this cargo handled at Colombo Port.The strategic location of Galathea Bay is a huge advantage to EXIM trade as it lies on International shipping route. With the development of ICTP at Galathea Bay, Indian ports will be able to attract more transshipment cargo. Also, developing Galathea Bay Transshipment Port will accrue significant benefits such as forex savings, foreign direct investment, increased economic activity at other Indian Ports, enhanced logistics infrastructure and thus, efficiencies, employment generation, and increased revenue share.

The proposed facility is envisaged to be developed in four phases with Phase 1 is proposed to be commissioned in the year 2028 with handling capacity of ~ 4 Million TEUs, increasing to 16 Million TEUs in the ultimate stage of development by 2058. The estimated cost for Phase 1 of the proposed transshipment port is around INR 19,000+ crores, which includes the construction of breakwaters, dredging, reclamation, berths, storage areas, building and utilities, procurement and installation of equipment, and development of port colony with core infrastructure is going to be developed with the government support.

The Union Minister also visited the Indira Point, the southernmost point of India's territoryat Great Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to explore its tourism potential. After the visit, he has directed the concerned officials to explore the possibility of developing the Indira Point area as a tourism destination and develop required tourism amenities and facilities for the same.

During this visit, Shri Sonowal also reviewed the Campbell Bay Port project progress. This project is being constructed with a cost of about Rs.17 crores. It is to be noted that the existing jetty at Campbell bay is inadequate for berthing of larger size vessels. Considering this extension of the jetty for 50m was taken up to facilitate safe berthing of bigger vessels. On completion of the project, vessels of 150mtr long will be able to berth which will provide more passenger and cargo movement between Great Nicobar and other islands. This extension also will facilitate double berthing, which will add for double berthing which will add the port capacity. Considering the future development of Great Nicobar Island, and expected increase in tourists and traders, this jetty will be useful to capture the traffic growth of the island.

E-Commerce cargo movement sets course for Ganga (NW 1) as Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Amazon signs MoU.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal attends the MoU ceremony, calls it a new leaf in India’s Waterways Growth

Maiden ship with e-commerce cargo to be flagged off from Patna to Kolkata soon

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Amazon Seller Services Private Limited (Amazon) for promoting cargo movement and transportation of customer shipments & products via inland waterways using river Ganga (National Waterway 1).

The ceremony was done in presence of the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal along with Secretary of MoPSW, Shri T. K. Ramachandran and Chairman of IWAI, Shri Sanjay Bandopadhyaya among other senior officials.

The collaboration between IWAI and Amazon marks a significant stride in advancing the transportation of e-commerce cargo along our Inland Waterways. This partnership seeks to harness the efficiency and sustainability of water transport to optimize logistics, diminish environmental footprints, and promote economic development. According to a World Bank Report, rail and road transport consume 18.5% and 91.6% more fuel than water transport, making it the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sonowal said, “This marks another important leaf in the growth story of India’s waterways. Under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the waterways have always been given special attention to enable it to become a wider and popular form of transportation. The Government is working tirelessly towards realisation of this vision of Modi ji to enable the waterways to become the rejuvenated conduit of growth as India moves ahead to become an Atmanirbhar Bharat. This partnership would be an important step towards enhancing the movement of e-Commerce cargo through our Inland Waterways. The aim of this partnership is to leverage the efficiency and sustainability of water transport to streamline logistics, reduce environmental impact and foster economic growth. With the beginning of this service, the artisans, the entrepreneurs and the traders of India’s hinterland will find an opportunity to sell their products in the wider market, both nationally and internationally, reasonably, easily at an affordable cost via an efficient mode of transportation. The maiden ship with e-commerce cargo will be flagged off from Patna to Kolkata soon.”

The collaboration between Amazon India and IWAI is another step towards realizing the  Prime Minister’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 of enhancing inland waterways as an affordable and sustainable mode of transportation and promoting cargo movement and transportation of customer shipments/products through Inland Water Transport using National Waterway-1.

To accelerate water transport within the country Sagarmala has embarked upon 113 projects worth Rs. 7,030 Crores related to RoRo/RoPax and Inland Water Transport. Out of these projects 15 projects worth Rs. 1,100 Crores have been completed and 32 projects worth Rs. 3,900 crores are under implementation. 

Amazon will be able to utilize all possible modes of transport in the country, including Rail, Air, Water, and Surface, to ensure faster, cost-effective, sustainable and more reliable delivery of customer packages and provide a wider reach to its millions of sellers. This partnership will not only benefit Amazon by lowering their transportation cost but also open up new possibilities for all e-commerce companies to leverage the extensive inland waterways in India.

Upto 2023, the cargo handled by the Inland Waterways is 126 MMT and as per the Maritime India Vision 2030, launched during the Maritime India Summit 2021, Ministry aims to increase inland water transport volumes by more than 200 MMT by 2030 and to achieve a target of more than 500 MMT by 2047, as per the Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, launched by the Prime Minister of India during GLOBAL MARITIME INDIA SUMMIT 2023 on 17th October 2023 at Mumbai.

The plan also includes increasing the number of operational waterways to 23 by 2030, in which 24 waterways are already operational till date which is planned to be increased to more than 50 by 2047 as per the Vision Document.

This mode is anticipated to become regular with shipments from other e-commerce platforms as well through the Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) mode. Collaboratively, IWAI and Amazon are poised to explore and implement state-of-the-art solutions, addressing the evolving needs of the e-commerce industry and contributing to a greener and more resilient logistics ecosystem.

India aims to lead Global Maritime sector with the success of PM Maritime Amritkaal Vision: Sarbananda Sonowal.

India’s Ports working towards transformation to be at the Top 25 ports in the world: Sarbananda Sonowal.

• Sonowal chairs Mid Term Review Meet to assess 162 projects with an investment of ₹1 trillion.
• Comprehensive approach derived for swift execution of the vision at the review meeting.
• Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, India is poised to become global leader in the maritime sector: Sarbananda Sonowal.
• ‘Make in India’ Green Tugs soon from Cochin Shipyard, opening a new vista of opportunities: Sarbananda Sonowal.
• Development of Green Hydrogen Hub at major ports of Deendayal Port & VO Chidambaranar on course: Sarbananda Sonowal.
   

New Delhi, 17 November, 2023: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a mid term review meeting here today where top officials of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways participated in the deliberations. The meeting was held to determine a comprehensive approach towards swift and smooth execution of the ‘PM Maritime Amritkaal Vision’ with an ultimate goal to make India the global maritime leader by 2047.

Major programmes of the Ministry including its flagship programmeSagarmala as well as other prominent programmes were reviewed. The meet also inquired about the progress of 162 projects with an investment outlay of ₹1 trillion. The Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism, Shripad Naik as well as the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shantanu Thakur also participated in the deliberations along with the top officials of major Indian ports, various PSUs, as well as other senior officials of the ministry.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “India is standing at an extremely important stage towards becoming a global leader of maritime sector. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Maritime Amritkaal Vision, 2047 was launched exactly a month ago at the Global Maritime India Summit in Mumbai. The document is a manifestation of Modi ji’s vision towards enabling India’s ports, empowering shipping sector and rejuvenating waterways with an ultimate goal to turn India into global power in the maritime sector. We are working to make our ports break into the top 25 ports of the world. We must stick to the ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’ while aiming to execute the letter and spirit of the Vision Document towards realising the goal of India becoming the global leader in the maritime sector by 2047.”

The meeting opens up an opportunity to review the holistic progress made under the 'Panch Karma Sankalp' announced during the 'Chintan Shivir' in May 2023. It is to be noted that during Chintan Shivir 2023 Shri Sonowal promised to take review of mid-year targets and today he acted upon on his promise.

Under the Panch Karma Sankalp announced during Chintan Shivir held JNPA, VOCPA, PPA, and DPA are in the process of finalizing Commercial Terms and Technical Specification with Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) for awarding the contract for building the Green Tugs.

Adding further, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “After a tremendous outcome at the GMIS, 2023, where we successfully closed 360 MoUs with an investment of ₹10 trillion, it is now time for their speedy and smooth execution. We are setting up a monthly review mechanism to keep a tab on the progress of all these initiatives as well as timely review of Maritime India Vision 2030 as well as Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we are focussing on scale and speed of achievements in the Sagarmalaprogramme. Following on the ‘Panch Karma Sankalp,’ we are moving closer towards building ‘Made In India’ Green Tugs at Cochin Shipyard, opening a new vista of opportunities for export. We have also received encouraging response to set up Green Hydrogen Hubs at Deen Dayal port and VO Chidambaranr ports. Similarly, powering our waterways remains a major focus for the ministry as Modi ji direction to revive and rejuvenate inland waterways system to power the economy to reach its next logical destination of becoming world’s top 3 economies.”

Deendayal Port Authority is setting up Green Hydrogen Hubs in which port has received prominent responses from 13 prospective developers against Global EoI. A total of more than 7 MMTPA capacity green Ammonia production has been offered by prospective Developers. The offered development will cater to the domestic and international demand of 1.4 MMTPA of Green Hydrogen .

VO Chidambaranar Port Authority has earmarked 500 acres of land for Green Hydrogen Hub. MoU has been signed between VoCPA and NGEL (Subsidiary of NTPC) for installation of Green Hydrogen/ Derivative Production Facility. Proposal for Grant for developing the common infrastructure to support the green Hydrogen Projects has been submitted to MNRE.

The Global Maritime India Summit, 2023, held in October, at Mumbai emerged as one of the world's largest maritime summits, attracting an investment of ₹10 lakh crores. This significant achievement aligns with the goals of the 'Amrit Kaal Vision 2047,' a vision document launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the event. Building upon the legacy of its predecessors, the third edition of GMIS unveiled broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders. 

During this grand event a total of 360 MoUs were signed with a total value of Rs. 8.35 Lac Crores and along with the Investible Projects of Rs. 1.68 Lac Crores, the total monetary value was more than Rs. 10 Lac Crores. The themes of the various MoUs are Green Initiatives worth Rs. 3.8 Lac Crores; Port Modernization worth Rs. 1.5 Lac Crores; Port Led Industrialization worth Rs. 0.75 Lac Crores; Trade & Business worth Rs. 0.70 Lac Crores; Knowledge exchange and Innovation, Ship Repair etc. worth Rs. 1.6 Lac Cr.

The discussion on major port projects, including Vadhavan Port, Multi Cargo Berths at Tuna Tekra, International and Domestic Cruise Terminals, and the Development of Outer Harbour at VoCPA, marked the beginning of the meeting. Shri Sonowal urged ports to make optimal efforts to secure a spot in the top 25 World Port Ranking, emphasizing that remaining competitive requires improving positions in the annual "Global Ranking" published by the World Bank. All ports and agencies under the Ministry were directed to showcase their "Green Initiatives" on international and relevant forums. In FY-2022-23, a total of 177 projects were completed at Major Ports, while currently, 162 projects are at various stages of implementation with an investment exceeding Rs 1 Lakh Crore.

Currently, 800+ projects are worth more than Rs. 5.74+ lakh Cr. are being monitored under the Sagarmala Programme, for implementation by 2035. Out of these, 237 projects worth Rs. 1.22 Lakh Cr. have already completed 262 projects worth Rs. 2.44 lakh Cr. are under implementation and 310 projects worth Rs. 2.08 Lakh Cr. are under various stages of development. Further, under holistic development of coastal districts, a total of 567 projects with an estimated cost of around Rs. 58,000 Cr have been identified. Under the SagarmalaProgramme, 94 Projects worth Rs. 31,597 Cr. have been completed resulting in capacity addition of more than 230 MTPA.

Over the last 9 years, the number of seafarers has increased by 140%. In 2014, the total count of active Indian Seafarers was 117,090 which is 280,000 in 2023.The Directorate General of Shippinghad approximately 1,699 women seafarers registered in 2014 which has now increased in 2023 to 10,440 reflecting an increase of 514% in the registered women Indian Seafarers.

The Third Dry Dock Project at Cochin Shipyard Limited with a total cost of Rs. 1,799 Cr. will serve dual purposes i.e., ship building and ship repair. Once completed this dock is capable of handling capsize and suez max vessels, 174K LNGC, Oil Rigs and Semi Subs & Large Aircraft carriers.  An International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) worth Rs. 970 Crores is also being built. CSL is also building “Zero Emission, Zero Noise Vessel” with home grown technology.

With a vision of people to people connect between India and Sri-Lanka an international ferry service was flagged off from Nagapattinam, India to Kenkesanthurai, Sri Lanka on 14th October. A fair-weather vessel was engaged by Shipping Corporation of India for this international ferry service. HSC Cheriyapani successfully completed 4 round voyages between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai on 14th, 16th, 18th& 20th Oct 2023 safely and has catered to the requirements of passengers of both countries.

The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) is being implemented with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank at a revised cost of Rs. 4,633.81 crores for the capacity augmentation of National Waterway-I (river Ganga) to enable movement of 1500-2000 tonne vessels. For development of IWT infrastructure in the North-East Region, Govt. sanctioned projects at a total cost of Rs. 1010 Crores including comprehensive development of NW-2 (the Brahmaputra). Projects for construction of elevated road for enhancing connectivity of Multi-Modal Terminal Pandu and construction of only inland ship repair facility are also approved and under implementation. Development of 16 more NWs have been approved worth Rs. 267 cr. for the period 2022-23 to 2025-26 by the Government. To boost green technology, a proposal for electric propelled technology vessels and hydrogen powered catamaran pax has also been made. 

DGLLto promote lighthouse tourism 75 Lighthouses have been earmarked in which tourism facilities are scheduled to be completed by December 2023. The Coffee Table Book of these 75 lighthouses will be launched by PM Modi in January 2024.

Over the years, the Indian maritime sector witnessed a remarkable transformation because of the strong efforts of the government, industry stakeholders and the unwavering support of our maritime community. MoPSW has embarked on a journey of progress, embracing technological advancements, improving infrastructure, enhancing efficiency, and fostering a conducive business environment. The programs and reform initiatives have been instrumental in enhancing port capacity, facilitating port-led industrialization, enhancing coastal shipping, reviving inland waterways, and making India Atmanirbhar in shipbuilding, repair & recycling. Today’s review meeting held under the leadership of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has provided the roadmap for better performance of the Ministry and its subsidiaries.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal calls upon revving up India’s Talent Pool to optimise Blue Economy’s potential.

                                                                        
Shri Sonowal interacts with student cadets at the International Maritime Institute, calls upon to embrace the ‘Amrit Kaal’ opportunity to become nation builders.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal visited the International Maritime Institute (IMI) and interacted with the student cadets, as well as reviewed the infrastructure & other facilities at the institute based in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh today.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sonowal said, “India is entering into a challenging yet exciting times where we all can pool in our resources and become nation builders to achieve the wonderful vision set by our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to make India become an Atmanirbhar Bharat and a developed nation by 2047. Maritime, which is the lifeline for the growth and development of any country, plays a crucial part in ensuring that the conduits of growth remains seamless. India must seize this opportunity and embrace it with top seafaring skills, excellent maritime infrastructure and a buzzing maritime trade. With an efficient maritime sector, India is poised to make steady progress in optimally exploring the vast opportunities in the regional as well as global maritime sector. Our training for the youth of our country in maritime sector must be top class. It is important that we rev up our talent pool & nurture our maritime talent to optimally secure opportunities to make India grow and prosper.”

The Minister also visited and reviewed the infrastructure at the institute including campus facilities, Ship simulator room, firefighting site, swimming pool etc. He was accompanied by officials of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways as well as the officials of the IMI group.   

Cancer Screening Camp at PPA Hospital.

Paradip Port Authority Hospital in association with HCG Panda Cancer Hospital, Cuttack organized a "Cancer Screening Camp “and Yoga -Ayurvedic wellbeing camp today. Shri P.L Haranadh, Chairman, PPA inaugurated the camp in presence of Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta, Deputy Chairman, PPA, Smt. Priti Sondhi, Working President, Paradip Ladies Club and other Sr. Officials of PPA. General screening for Oral, Breast and cervical cancer screening tests was conducted. 34 nos. of persons examined on the occasion. 07 nos. of PAP smear were collected for microscopic examination. “Nadi Pariksha”, a method for diagnosis of general wellbeing and disease process was conducted by PPA Ayurvedic doctor on 15 no. of persons. Chairman, PPA informed that more such camps along with general disease detection and prevention camps shall be conducted by PPA.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal to flag off domestic sailing of the first International Cruise Liner ‘ÇOSTA SERENA’ tomorrow.

India aims to have 50 million cruise passengers by 2047.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal will launch the domestic sailing of the first International Cruise Liner ‘COSTA SERENA’ in India at Mumbai tomorrow. The ‘Dekho Apna Desh’, an initiative launched as an appeal by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to the middle class to prefer the domestic tourism over the international tourism, drives such cruise initiatives.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is very focussed on bringing India on the cruising map of the world. At the recently concluded Global Maritime India Summit 2023 organised by the Ministry, discussions revolved around reaching the target of 50 million cruise passengers in India by 2047. This looks achievable as India has a huge potential.

Costa Cruises is expected to carry approximately 45,000 passengers in its next 2 months voyages. These passengers would have otherwise booked from international destinations. The biggest advantage is an International Cruising experience for Indians in Indian waters.

PPA observes Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.

Paradip Port Authority observed Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) today on the occasion of 147^th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA offered floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel along with other Sr. Officials of PPA. Addressing the gathering, he highlighted Sardar Patel’s vision of a united India and called for an inclusive, prosperous and harmonious Country. He urged all the employees to follow the same resolve and put their best efforts forward to take PPA into newer heights in coming times. Thereafter, Shri Haranadh administered Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Pledge to the officers, employees and Sports trainees of GKS present at the Gopabandhu Stadium. He also flagged off the “Run for Unity” which culminated at the PPA Administrative Building.

Vigilance Awareness Week begins at PPA.

As per the directives of Central Vigilance Commission, Paradip Port Authority is observing week-long celebration from 30^th October to 5^th November 2023, centered on the theme “Say No to Corruption, Commit to the Nation”, The celebration to spread Vigilance Awareness began at Paradip Port with a walkathon led by Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman started from the Bus Stand & culminated at PPA Administrative building in the morning. Denizens of Paradip enthusiastically participated in huge numbers.

 Later on, Shri Haranadh administered Integrity Pledge to the employees at PPA Administrative Building. Following the pledge, a spot quiz contest on vigilance knowledge was held among the employees. Then he flagged off a “Satarkata Rath” to promote vigilance awareness as well as message of CVC. Local cultural organization CANMASS performed a skit titled “Chharapoka – The Bug” to generate awareness about the menaces of corruption and on filling complaints under PIDPI resolution, which was highly appreciated by the audience present.  

During the observance of Vigilance Awareness week -2023, various activities and competitions on elocution, essay, drawing and fancy dress have been scheduled among the local school students to promote awareness among general mass. PPA employees are also actively taking integrity e-pledge by visiting website of CVC through PPA Website and the Website of CVC & PPA. Several Hoardings have been displayed in the locality for creating awareness among the public. Each department of PPA has been conducting stakeholders meet for awareness on corruption and grievance redressal, issues relating to the functioning of the departments under three months Campaign as prelude to Vigilance Awareness Week-2023.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways taking various initiatives under the Special Campaign 3.0.

Approximately Rs. 1,17,09,095 revenue earned after disposing of scrap and redundant materials till date Out of 97 MoPSW has conducted 94 cleanliness campaigns.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has been conducting the Special Campaign 3.0. The main focus areas of the Campaign include effective disposal of public grievances, references from Members of Parliament, Parliament assurances, cleanliness drive in the workplace and around the premise, disposal of scrap and weeding out of files.

Till date out of 24,215 physical files 24,023 files have been reviewed; 6,847 files were identified for weeding out of which 1,857 files have been weeded; total number of 13,848 E-files were put up for review out of which 1,012 have been reviewed and 7,538 have been closed. More than 50 tweets on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram have been posted by the official social media handles of the Ministry and its Autonomous Bodies to promote campaign awareness.
                                                                    

The cleanliness campaign is in full swing and has been conducted at 94 sites out of 97. An area of 1,421 Square Feet space has been freed till now. The Ministry has earned a revenue of Rs. 1,17,09,095 by scrap disposal. Out of 91 Public Grievances Targets 90 have been addressed; PMO References 6 achieved out of 9; References from MPs Targets 59 of which 47 have been achieved; Parliamentary Assurance Targets were 42 of which 37 have been achieved; All 4 IMC References (Cabinet Proposals) target and all 7 State Govt. Reference targets have been achieved.
                                                                  

The initiatives commenced with a preparatory phase on 15 September 2023, aimed at identifying specific targets to be taken up for cleaning for the main phase of the campaign, which is being conducted from 2nd October 2023 to 31st October 2023.
                                                                 

President Smt. Droupadi Murmu to grace 8th Convocation Ceremony of Indian Maritime University, Chennai tomorrow.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal to lay foundation stones of projects worth more than Rs. 27 Crores at the Campus.

President Smt. Droupadi Murmu and Governor of Tamil Nadu Shri Ravindra Narayan Ravi will attend 8th Convocation Ceremony of Indian Maritime University (IMU), Chennai tomorrow. The event will begin at the university campus. IMU - headquartered in Chennai. IMU was established on 14th November, 2008 as a Central University by merging seven legacy institutes to provide quality maritime education, training, and research.

During this event 10 gold and 10 silver medals will be conferred to the meritorious students. Apart from this 1,944 students of the four Schools from the six campuses of IMU as well as from the affiliated institutes of IMU qualified will receive their degrees. A total of 245 candidates will receive the degrees in person. This includes two Ph.D. Scholars and one Scholar of M.S. (By Research).

The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Minister of AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal will grace the event as the Guest of Honour. During this event Shri Sonowal will lay the foundation stone of Innovation Lab worth Rs. 6.8 crores and Admin Block ‘C’ worth Rs. 21.25 crores.

The other dignitaries of the event are Dr. T. Sumathy Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Member of Parliament, South Chennai, Shri. Shripad Naik, the Minister of State, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ministry of Tourism, Shri Shantanu Thakur, the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways’, Dr. K. Ponmudy, Minister of Higher Education, Government. of Tamilnadu, Shri P. Shankar, IAS (Retd), Chancellor of the Indian Maritime University at Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

India secures over 10 lakh crore investments within three days of unveiling of the Maritime Amritkaal Vision 2047 by Hon’ble Prime Minister.

On the inaugural day, PM laid foundation stone and dedicated to nation projects worth more than Rs 23,000 crores, of which PPA related projects are to the tune of Rs.9,000 Cr.

Mumbai, 19 October, 2023: The Global Maritime India Summit, 2023, one of the largest maritime summits in the world, anchored Rs. 10 lakh crores of investment during the three day event, which concluded here on 19th October. With this huge feat, the third edition of the GMIS made a significant stride towards achievement of ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’ of Rs. 80 trillion investment - a vision document shared by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the development of maritime sector by 2047. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the third edition of Global Maritime India Summit 2023 in Mumbai via video conferencing on 17th October, 2023. The Prime Minister inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone for projects worth more than Rs 23,000 crores that are aligned with the ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’ for the Indian maritime blue economy. Of the above, PPA related projected dedicated to the nation are - 10 MTPA New Iron Ore berth for handling of Iron Ore exports at Paradip Port on BOT basis worth Rs. 655.56 Cr., 30 MTPA capacity Mechanization of EQ-1,2,3 berths for handling of Coal exports at Paradip Port on BOT basis worth Rs. 1437.76 Cr., development of 10MTPA New Coal berth for handling of Coal imports at Paradip Port on BOT basis worth Rs. 655.56 Cr., 82 KM long Haridaspur-Paradip Rail Line worth Rs. 3,200 Cr. Beside this, foundation stone was laid for Deepening and Optimization of Inner Harbour facilities including development of Western Dock on BOT basis to handle Cape size vessels worth Rs. 3004.63 Cr.

At the valedictory session of the GMIS, 2023, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled the  ‘GMIS 2023 Mumbai Declaration’ along with the Union Minister of Finance, Nirmal Sitharaman; the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal; the Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan; the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai Patel; the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis; the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shripad Naik, the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shantanu Thakur among others.

Various categories of awards were conferred on participating organizations. PPA bagged the “Maritime Excellence Achievers 2023 – Port Operational Excellence Award”.  Shri P. L. Harandh, Chairman & Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta, Dy. Chairman, PPA received the award from Shri Goyal.

Congratulating Team PPA on this stupendous performance, Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, said that the hard work, passion, and determination shown by the Team has helped a lot to achieve several new milestones.

PPA has entered into MoUs worth Rs. 1 lakh Cr. approximately with various prospective investors during the summit, which will significantly boost the maritime economy of the state.

Besides, PPA organised and convened two sessions in the summit, which were well attended and appreciated. Especially, Session on Odisha received the 2nd Best Session Award in the Summit. One of the major attractions was PPA’s stall in the exhibition, which was appreciated by visiting Ministers and Secretaries

Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions, the third meet unveiled broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders. The Global Martitime Summit witnessed participation from more than 60 countries, 215 international and national speakers and 50,000 physical and virtual attendees.

India secures over 10 lakh crore investments within three days of unveiling of the Maritime Amritkaal Vision 2047.

• GMIS, 2023 comes to an end with resounding success of 360 MoUs with investment commitment of ₹8.35 lakh crores, additional investible projects worth ₹1.68 lakh crores announced
• Valedictory session of GMIS witnessed Union Ministers Nirmala Sitaraman, Dharmendra Pradhan, Piyush Goyal, along with Sarbananda Sonowal
• Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai Patel, Deputy CMs of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis along with MoS Shripad Naik and Shantanu Thakur graced the valedictory session
• Union Minister held ministerial level bilateral meetings with Ministers from Italy, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Nepal & Netherlands to foster maritime cooperation
• More than 50 countries and 215 international and national speakers participated during the Summit

Mumbai, 19 October, 2023: The Global Maritime India Summit, 2023, one of the largest maritime summits in the world, anchored ₹10 lakh crores of investment during the three day event, which concluded here today. With this huge feat, the third edition of the GMIS made a significant stride towards achievement of ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’ of ₹80 trillion investment - a vision document shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of maritime sector by 2047.

At the valedictory session of the GMIS, 2023, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled the  ‘GMIS 2023 Mumbai Declaration’ along with the Union Minister of Finance, Nirmal Sitharaman; the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal; the Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan; the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai Patel; the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis; the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shripad Naik, the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shantanu Thakur among others.

Speaking at the valedictory session of GMIS, 2023, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “The Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 has made a wonderful beginning by securing an investment commitment of more than ₹10 lakh crores towards achieving the vision of our visionary Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji as envisioned in the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision, 2047. The vision document launched by Modi ji charts a roadmap for the development of India’s maritime sector with a time bound implementation plan on multiple areas. With the record number of MoUs signed among the stakeholders, the summit has unrolled the trajectory for India to become a global maritime hub. We would like to extend our gratitude to the 10 partner countries, more than 50 partner countries, all the stakeholders, delegates who established a connection during this summit to collaborate on identified areas for cooperation and create future proof solutions. With your active support towards the success of this summit, we believe that GMIS has achieved its objective that offered a platform to boost regional cooperation, collaboration among maritime nations, across dimensions.”

Shri Goyal praised the efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in enhancing the EXIM trade capacity of India by which it has achieved more 450 billion dollars of trade in 2022-23. 

The global summit witnessed participation from more than countries, 215 international and national speakers and 50,000 physical and virtual attendees. Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions, the third meet unveiled broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders.

Highlighting role of innovation and technology, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal added, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India has been at the forefront of research and development, and implementation of existing technologies towards driving sectoral efficiency, building capacity. Establishing Digital Centre of Excellence for Maritime Efficiency (COEME) is one of the many initiatives that displays Modi government’s commitment towards technological advancement – both towards indigenous and collaborative development. In line with this, harnessing the potential of India’s maritime start up ecosystem would be a key focus area for our government.”

During this three-day discourse, there was also much discussion about sustainable development with green ports and shipping, an area in which Norway and other leading maritime nations are defining best practises and setting standards that the rest of the world should follow. “India, for example, plans to develop carbon neutrality among other globally trending areas on reduction of GHG emissions with the use of green fuels, electrified/renewable energy-based yard equipment, vehicles”, said Sarbananda Sonowal.

The Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized on the need for providing seafarers with a more supportive and more comfortable working environment evolved in the post-pandemic era. The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal, the Chief Minister, Government of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai Patel along with Shri Sonowal wrapped up GMIS 2023 shared their thoughts on how India’s maritime sector is the backbone of nation’s economy that contributes towards all the public and private port authorities, shipping lines, legacy companies, startups, MSMEs and other supporting industries.

The three days of the summit witnessed a series of insightful roundtables and sessions, each addressing critical aspects of the maritime sector including the key regional development initiatives with discussions on India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), BIMSTEC, Chabahar port INTSC corridor. Aspects like development of multiple ports of connectivity between Indian and EU countries combat geopolitical uncertainties, promoting maritime as gateway for BIMSTEC and IMEC economic corridors and facilitating joint forums to represent pertinent focus areas at IMO were some of the key areas of discussion.

The GMIS 2023 highlighted the opportunities in the India’s cruise sector while bringing to light government’s commitment to developing the cruise sector with measures including creation of cruise terminal infrastructure, incentivization with relaxation in taxes, institutional capacity building with training academies dedicated to cruise, and an attractive and stable regularity policy framework in line with international standards inviting international players to set up their base in India. The government is planning to release a holistic Cruise promotion policy.

The GMIS 2023 summit concluded with relevant sessions related to the shipping industry chaired by Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers and Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, GoI. This was followed by a special discussion led by Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Govt of India around the maritime financing, insurance & arbitration. The Union Minister of State for External Affairs & Culture, Meenakashi Lekhi also visited the GMIS summit.

Earlier, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the GMIS 2023 laid the foundation stones for 21 projects worth ₹18,800 crores with 34 MoUs worth ₹3.24 lakh crore was inked during the Inaugural session. This included Green Projects having share of ₹1.8 lakh crore and Projects of Port Development and Modernisation worth ₹1.1 lakh crore. PM Modi also launched Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 - a roadmap for maritime sector development for the next 25 years, the Amrit Kaal to make India Atmanirbhar by 2047. PM Narendra Modi shared his vision of unlocking investment of ₹80 lakh crores for the development of maritime sector during this period. At the roundtable on Global Economic Corridors, as many as 60 representatives from various countries attended, which included CEOs from 33 international companies and 17 Indian companies. The inaugural session also witnessed 10 ministers from different countries joined the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on the dais at the event. 21 ministers from 10 countries participated in various sessions at the GMIS, 2023.

GMIS, 2023 sails India into the Green Sustainability Transportation: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

• India’s maritime docks record investment of ₹2.37 lakh crores on second day of GMIS 2023.
• 70 MoUs were exchanged with major focus on Port development & Modernisation, Green Hydrogen, Port Led Development, Business & Commerce, Ship Building & Knowledge Sharing.
• Union Shipping Minister held ministerial level bilateral meetings with Ministers from Italy, Tanzania and Sri Lanka.
  ​

The Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023, one of the biggest maritime summits in the world, recorded major investment of ₹2.37 lakh crores on the second day of the three day summit held here. As many as 70 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed in the various industries of maritime sector such as Port Development and modernisation, green hydrogen & ammonia, port led development, business & commerce, ship building, knowledge sharing & Port connectivity during the day. Today’s MoUs with focus sustainable development were signed in presence of the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shripad Naik and the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shantanu Thakur.  
Post MoU signing ceremony, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, said, “Today, at the Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 has ushered a new age in sustainable development of the country with a record number of 70 MoUs with an investment of ₹2.37 lakh crores. The maritime sector is playing an instrumental role as it has paved the way for India set sail towards Green Sustainability Transportation. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India has experienced a historic growth in the last 9 years. Maritime sector is no exception as we are giving major thrust to the future growth multipliers. Under Modi ji’s inspired leadership, India has scaled new heights to become fifth largest economy in the world. Now, Modi ji has given us another target to further scale the growth story of India. To achieve, GMIS plays a pivotal role and I am happy to share the mammoth of exchange of ideas as well as understandings with clear vision to make India a developed country by 2047.”
The Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also held Ministerial level bilateral meetings with Ministers from Italy, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. The first meeting was with the Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Transport (Minister of Ports), Italy, Edoardo Rixi. The meeting was also attended by the Secretary of Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, TK Ramachandran.  Both the ministers agreed to enhance maritime cooperation on identified industries in order to build on the robust maritime relationship between the two countries. During the second meeting, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal met the Minister of Blue Economy and Fisheries, Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Tanzania, Suleiman Masoud Madame. In the third meeting, the Minister of Ports, Shipping & Aviation, Sri Lanka, Siripala De Silva met with the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal where the two discussed multiple issues to further strengthen and deepen the maritime relationship between the two countries. 

The second day of the GMIS featured a series of insightful sessions, each addressing critical aspects of the maritime industry ranging from green shipping and ports to the latest trends in shipping and maritime logistics. The first session chaired by Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Government of India initiated the discussion around the role of the shipping sector in aligning with the goals set by the Ministry of Environment and Forests for a sustainable and environmentally responsible future. This was followed by sessions related to the latest trends in shipping & maritime logistics and dredging chaired by Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India.  Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, Nitin Gadkari deliberated virtually on developing inland waterways as an integrated element of multimodal economic corridors and Strategies and roadmap to promote coastal shipping as preferred mode of transport were discussed. 

Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Tourism, Government of India highlighted the various measures and initiatives to promote cruise tourism during his session.

The day 2 of the GMIS 2023 concluded with a roundtable on Chabahar Post and its role in enhancing regional connectivity and its inclusion in INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) co-chaired by Sarbananda  Sonowal and Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs & State for Culture, Government of India.

In a boost to amp up maritime trade and commerce via National Waterways 2 (Brahmaputra), a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) and A to Z Exit here today. The memorandum has set the framework to explore the possibility of transportation of various cargo between various destinations of the Northeast region of India and Bangladesh. This endeavour will provide support by facilitating with adequate volume of trade that needs to be shipped or imported into Bhutan from India, Bangladesh and any other countries using the ports operated in India.

Earlier, on day one of the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stones for 21 projects worth ₹18,800 crores with 34 MoUs worth ₹3.24 lakh crore was inked during the Inaugural session. This included Green Projects having share of ₹1.8 lakh crore and Projects of Port Development and Modernisation worth ₹1.1 lakh crore. PM Modi also launched Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 - a roadmap for maritime sector development for the next 25 years, the Amrit Kaal to make India Atmanirbhar by 2047. At the roundtable on Global Economic Corridors, as many as 60 representatives from various countries attended, which included CEOs from 33 international companies and 17 Indian companies. The inaugural session also witnessed 10 ministers from different countries joined the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on the dais at the event. 21 ministers from 10 countries participated in various sessions at the GMIS, 2023. 

PM inaugurates Global Maritime India Summit 2023.

• Unveils ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’ - a blueprint for the Indian Maritime blue economy.
• Lays foundation stone and dedicates to nation projects worth more than Rs 23,000 crores.
• Lays foundation stone of Tuna Tekra Deep Draft Terminal at Deendayal Port Authority, Gujarat.
• Dedicates more than 300 MoUs for global and national partnership in the Maritime sector
• In the changing world order, the world is looking towards India with new aspirations.
• Government’s vision of ‘Ports for Prosperity and Ports for Progress’ is bringing transformational changes at the ground level.
• Our Mantra is ‘Make in India - Make for the world.
• We are moving towards a future where the Blue Economy will be the medium to create a Green Planet.
• India is moving towards becoming a global cruise hub through its state-of-the-art infrastructure.
• Combination of Development, Demography, Democracy and Demand is an opportunity for investors.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the third edition of Global Maritime India Summit 2023 in Mumbai via video conferencing today. The Prime Minister also unveiled ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’, a blueprint for the Indian maritime blue economy. In line with this futuristic plan, the Prime Minister inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone for projects worth more than Rs 23,000 crores that are aligned with the ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’ for the Indian maritime blue economy. The summit provides an excellent platform for attracting investment in the country's maritime sector.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed everyone to the 3rd edition of the Global Maritime India Summit 2023. He recalled how the entire world was marred by the uncertainties of the Covid pandemic when the Summit took place in 2021, and emphasized that a new world order is taking shape today. In the changing world order, the Prime Minister underlined that the world is looking towards India with new aspirations. He stated that India’s economy is constantly strengthening in a world dealing with economic crisis, and the day is not far when India will become one of the top 3 economies in the world. Underscoring the role of sea routes in global trade, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for a reliable global supply chain in the post-Corona world.

The Prime Minister said that history bears testimony that India's maritime capabilities have always benefited the world. The Prime Minister listed the systematic steps undertaken to strengthen the sector in the last few years. He underlined the transformative impact of the historic G20 consensus on the  proposed India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor. He said that as the Silk Route of the past changed the economy of many countries, this corridor too will transform the picture of global trade.  He said that Next Generation Mega Port, International Container Trans-shipment port, island development, inland waterways, and multi-modal hub will be undertaken under this leading to a reduction in business cost and environmental degradation will improve logistical efficiency and create jobs. The Prime Minister reiterated that investors have a great opportunity to become part of this campaign and join India.

Prime Minister Modi reiterated that the India of today is working to fulfill the resolve of becoming a developed nation in the next 25 years. He underlined that the government is bringing about revolutionary changes in every sector and mentioned the work done to strengthen the maritime sector of India. In the last decade, the Prime Minister informed that the capacity of major ports in India has doubled, and turnaround time for big vessels has come down to less than 24 hours as compared to 42 hours in 2014. He also mentioned the construction of new roads to increase port connectivity and touched upon the SagarMala Project to strengthen the coastal infrastructure. These efforts, the Prime Minister said, are increasing employment opportunities and Ease of Living manifold.

“Government’s vision of ‘Ports for Prosperity and Ports for Progress’ is bringing transformational changes at the ground level”, the Prime Minister said as he noted that the mantra of ‘Ports for Productivity’ is also being encouraged. Shri Modi informed that the government is taking major steps to enhance economic productivity by making the logistics sector more efficient and effective. He underlined that Coastal Shipping Modes are also being modernized in India and informed that the coastal cargo traffic has doubled in the last decade, thereby providing a cost-effective logistic option for the people. Regarding the development of inland waterways in India, the Prime Minister informed that cargo handling of national waterways grew by four times. He also mentioned India’s improvement in the Logistics Performance Index in the last 9 years.

The Prime Minister talked about the government’s focus on the ship-building and repair sector. He said that indigenous aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant is proof of India's capacity. “India is going to become one of the top five ship-building nations in the coming decade. Our Mantra is ‘Make in India - Make for the world’”, the Prime Minister said. He informed that the government is working to bring together all stakeholders in the sector through maritime clusters. Ship-building and repair centers will be developed in many places. He mentioned that India is already at second place in the field of ship recycling. He also informed about the effort to make the major ports in India carbon-neutral via a net-zero strategy for the sector. “We are moving towards a future where the Blue Economy will be the medium to create a Green Planet”.

The Prime Minister underlined that work is underway in India for the big players in the maritime sector to enter the country and mentioned GIFT City in Ahmedabad which has launched ship leasing as a financial service while offering discounts at the same time. Shri Modi expressed delight that 4 global ship leasing companies of the world have also registered with GIFT IFSC. He also called upon other ship leasing companies present at this summit to join GIFT IFSC.

“India has a vast coastline, strong riverine eco-system and rich cultural heritage which create new possibilities for Maritime Tourism '', the Prime Minister remarked. He mentioned the nearly 5 thousand-year-old Lothal Dockyard in India which is a world heritage and called it the ‘Cradle of Shipping’. He informed that a National Maritime Heritage Complex is also being built in Lothal near Mumbai to preserve this world heritage and urged the citizens to visit upon completion.

The Prime Minister mentioned the world’s  longest river cruise service to promote maritime tourism in India. He informed about the upcoming International Cruise terminal in Mumbai and modern cruise terminals in Visakhapatnam and Chennai. “India is moving towards becoming a global cruise hub through its state-of-the-art infrastructure”, he added.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister remarked that India is one of the few countries which has such a combination of Development, Demography, Democracy and Demand. “At a time when India is moving towards the goal of becoming a developed India by 2047, this is a golden opportunity for you”, Shri Modi said and sent out an open invite to investors from all over the world to come to India and join the path of development.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal was present on the occasion.

Background

During the programme, the Prime Minister unveiled 'Amrit Kaal Vision 2047', the long-term blueprint for the Indian maritime blue economy. The blueprint outlines strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing port facilities, promoting sustainable practices, and facilitating international collaboration. In line with this futuristic plan, the Prime Minister inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of projects worth more than Rs 23,000 crores that are aligned with the 'Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’ for the Indian maritime blue economy.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Tuna Tekra all-weather deep draft terminal, to be built at a cost of more than Rs 4,500 crores at Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat. This state-of-the-art greenfield terminal will be developed in PPP mode. The terminal, which is likely to emerge as an international trade hub, will handle next-gen vessels exceeding 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and will act as a gateway for Indian trade via the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). The Prime Minister also dedicated more than 300 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth more than 7 lakh crore for global and national partnerships in the maritime sector.

The summit is the biggest Maritime Event in the country and will witness the participation of Ministers from across the globe representing countries from Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia (including central Asia, Middle East and BIMSTEC region). The summit is also to be attended by Global CEOs, Business leaders, Investors, Officials, and other stakeholders worldwide. Further, several Indian states will also be represented at the summit by the Ministers and other dignitaries.

The three-day summit will discuss and deliberate key issues of the maritime sector including ports of the future; decarbonisation; coastal shipping and inland water transportation; shipbuilding; repair and recycling; finance, insurance & arbitration; maritime clusters; innovation & technology; maritime safety and security; and maritime tourism, among others. The summit provides an excellent platform for attracting investment in the country's maritime sector.

The first Maritime India summit was held in 2016 in Mumbai while the Second Maritime Summit was held virtually in 2021.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Biggest Maritime Event Global Maritime India Summit 2023 on 17th October.

The event is being organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways from 17th to 19th October 2023 at MMRDA Grounds, BKC, Mumbai.

Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Eknath Shinde and Dr. Pramod Sawant, CM Goa to attend the inaugural session along with Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW; Shri Shripad Y. Naik, MoS, MoPSW,Shri Shantanu Thakur, MoS, MoPSW and Shri Ramesh Bais, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra.

Ministers, including Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman; Shri Piyush, Goyal; Shri Nitin, Gadkari; Shri Narayan Rane; Dr Mansukh Mandaviya; Shri Dharmendra Pradhan; Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi and Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey to grace the event during the course of three days.

Ministers from 12 countries to attend the GMIS 2023 inaugural session.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the third edition of the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 (GMIS 2023) scheduled to be held from 17th to 19th October at MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai. This biggest maritime event is being organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

The summit will focus on key areas of the maritime sector with sessions and discussions around ports of the future; decarbonisation; coastal shipping & IWT; shipbuilding; repair and recycling; finance, insurance & arbitration; maritime clusters; innovation & technology; maritime safety and security; and maritime tourism, among others.

The inaugural session will be graced by Shri Eknath Shinde, CM of Maharashtra; Dr. Pramod Sawant, CM, Goa. The session is also set to witness the participation of ministers from 12 countries, including Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Comoros, Iran, Italy, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Spain, and Nepal. In addition, 16 State ministers and Lieutenant Governors from 11 Indian States and Union Territories will be present.

‘This is a landmark event, not just for India, but for the global maritime community. The discussions initiated here will significantly influence maritime policies and strategies worldwide,’ said Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and AYUSH.

Wide International and National Representation

The summit is bolstered by confirmed participation from 115 officials from 28 countries including Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Denmark, France, Iran, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Spain, Norway, Mexico, UAE, UK, USA and many more.

Unfurling 'Amrit Kaal Vision 2047'

This summit serves as a platform to unveil 'Amrit Kaal Vision 2047,' a 25-year blueprint for the Indian maritime blue economy. The plan outlines strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing port facilities, promoting sustainable practices, and facilitating international collaboration. Projects worth INR 23,364 crores will be inaugurated, or foundation stones will be laid during the summit to align with this vision.

Unprecedented Industry and Investment Avenues

With over 81 international speakers from 27 countries and more than 100 Indian counterparts, the summit is poised to be a hub of industry expertise. Over 3,000 registered delegates, including 31 leading Global CEOs, will participate in discussions. Investment-wise, the event will see the execution of 316 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) amounting to more than INR 7.18 lakh crores, with 86 investable projects worth around INR 1.7 lakh crores showcased.

Exhaustive Exhibition and Conference Line-up

A comprehensive exhibition with 150 exhibitors and an expansive conference schedule featuring 31 sessions, including technical discussions, state sessions, and international round tables, will offer in-depth insight into the future of the maritime industry.

For Updates, visit:

• maritimeindiasummit.com/
• https://twitter.com/shipmin_india/media
• https://www.facebook.com/ShipminIndia/
• https://in.linkedin.com/company/ministry-of-ports-shipping-and-waterways-india
• https://www.youtube.com/@MinistryOfPortsShipping_GOI
• https://www.instagram.com/shipmin_india/?hl=en
• https://twitter.com/GMIS2023
• https://www.facebook.com/GMIS2023/
• https://www.youtube.com/@GMIS2023
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/gmis2023/
• https://www.instagram.com/gmis2023_/

MoPSW brings Ocean of Opportunities for Maritime Sector of the Nation.

The Global Maritime India Summit 2023 is here ..!! Connect➡Collaborate➡Create

· Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW briefed media today in Mumbai and invited them for the GMIS 2023

· The third edition of Global Maritime India Summit 2023 is scheduled from 17^th to 19^th October at MMRDA Grounds, BKC, Mumbai

· GMIS 2023 is aligned with our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and captures a wide range of opportunities for Public Private Partnerships, with investment opportunities of Rs.10 lakh crore already identified across the sector with potential to generate more than 15 lakh job opportunities: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW

Mumbai, 9^th October 2023: As the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways gears up for the most awaited maritime event Global Maritime India Summit- 2023 of the nation. Today, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW along with Shri Shripad Y. Naik, MoS, MoPSW briefed media in Mumbai. The ministry’s biggest maritime event is scheduled from 17th to 19th October at MMRDA Grounds, BKC, Mumbai.

While addressing the press conference Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW said, ‘In line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of “One Earth One Family One Future”, each session of GMIS-2023 has been designed to deliberate upon pressing global maritime issues’.

‘GMIS 2023 is aligned with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and captures a wide range of opportunities for Public Private Partnerships, with investment opportunities of Rs.10 lakh crore already identified across the sector with potential to generate more than 15 lakh job opportunities’, Shri Sonowal added.

Sharing his concluding remarks, Shri Sonowal said, "Our vision is to foster a blue economy, promoting the development of green ports, sustainable infrastructure, cruise tourism and attracting global investments to propel the maritime industry forward."

It is to be noted that the 3rd edition of the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 is going to be much bigger and more inclusive than the previous two summits organized in 2016 and 2021 in terms of scale and participation.

GMIS 2023 is expected to draw participation from more than 70 countries. A cadre of senior ministers from the UAE, South Africa, Armenia, Italy, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Bangladesh, and Madagascar will be attending. The summit is poised to host over 250 national and international speakers and CEOs, in addition to conducting more than 20 thematic sessions, including 7 international roundtables and 13+ sectoral and state discussions. Discussions are planned on regional cooperation in BIMSTEC countries, Chabahar and INSTC (International North–South Transport Corridor), Africa, Indo Pacific, Europe and the newly launched IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor).

Shri TK Ramachandran, IAS Secretary, MoPSW while emphasizing on the importance of organizing the event said, ‘GMIS offers a wide canvas for Public-Private Partnerships in diverse maritime sectors such as ports, shipbuilding, waterways, and maritime education. The summit has identified several focus areas, including Ports of the Future, Decarbonisation, Coastal Shipping and Inland Water Transport (IWT), Shipbuilding, Repair and Recycling, Finance, Insurance and Arbitration, Innovation and Technology, Maritime Safety and Security, and Maritime Tourism’.

Paradip Port becomes the Numero Uno among Indian Major Ports.

INDIA's Major Ports’ Traffic surges by 2.36% in first half of FY 2023-24 Paradip Port becomes the Numero Uno among Indian Major Ports.

Total India's cargo traffic handled by 12 major ports is on the rise and has reached 393.732 MMT in the first half of FY 2023-24, exhibiting growth of 2.35% year on year, according to latest figures released by the Indian Ports Association.

Paradip Port has emerged numero uno by clocking 69.137 MMT cargo throughput in the current fiscal. The Port, first time in the history, clocked highest ever cargo handling among Major Ports, during H1 (first half) of any financial year. Besides, it has exhibited 8.5% of incremental growth over the same period in the previous fiscal, which happens to be highest among all the Major Ports. Iron ore including Pellets handled by PPA has shown the highest incremental growth of 45.56% so far. This is to be noted that since FY 2016-17, PPA has consistently occupied 2^nd position in half yearly cargo handling figures of various fiscals. For the first time, drifting away from the trend, PPA has secured the 1^st position by achieving the highest cargo traffic.

Congratulating Team PPA on this stupendous performance, Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPA has also offered his heartfelt thanks to all Stakeholders for their constant support and immense contribution.

Swachhata takes you closer to God’, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal joins people in the ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ drive from Dibrugarh, Assam.

Shri Sonowal applauds the success of this wonderful movement with enthusiastic participation by the  people of Assam under the inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal led the ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ movement from Dibrugarh, Assam today. On this occasion, the Union Minister thanked the people of Assam for their enthusiastic participation in this novel movement of cleanliness under the inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Speaking on the occasion, the Shri Sonowal said, “As we join the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ movement and offer our ‘Shram’, it is heartening to witness how the people of Assam has responded to the call of our dynamic leader, honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, and making this movement a success with their enthusiastic participation. We must remember what Mahatma Gandhi jis message on cleanliness  and how it resonates through Jan Bhagidari for a Garbage Free India. Cleanliness brings us closer to the Godliness. We must remain steadfast towards this noble objective of a clean Bharat for achieving a Swastha Bharat, a vision of our leader Narendra Modiji.”

PPA conducts “Swachhta Hi Seva” in the township.

As per clarion call given by Hon’ble of Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Paradip Port Authority along with Paradeep Municipality, Paradip Sakharata Samiti, Local school students and denizens of the township conducted One Hour long Shramdaan for cleanliness drive at the Bank Street and Creek side near Mausima temple. Gracing the occasion as chief guest Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA flagged off a Swachhata Rath in presence of Shri Basant Kumar Biswal, Chairman, Paradeep Municipality and other HoDs and senior officials of PPA.  Commenting about the Swachhata drive Shri Haranadh commented that Cleanliness is not just a transient allegiance, but it is a way of life for realising a dream of clean and green society.  Similarly, CISF Unit of PPA conducted plogging activity at the Paradip Beach.

Paradip Port observed the 46th World Maritime Day.

Paradip Port observed the 46th World Maritime Day With the theme, “MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on”  Paradip Port observed the 46th World Maritime Day, today. Unlike National Maritime Day, there is no fixed date of celebration of World Maritime Day. But, generally it is celebrated on last week of September every year. It depends on the individual Governments to decide a suitable date for celebration during last week of September and DG Shipping, Govt. of India has decided and directed to celebrate World Maritime Day on 29th September 2023 in India for this year.

    On this occasion, at PPA, Capt. A .C Sahu, Dy.Conservator  hoisted the World Maritime Day flag at the Marine Site office in presence of  HoDs of PPA, other Sr. Officials of Marine Dept. and students of Orissa Maritime Academy. Later on the students participated in an awareness rally in the Port township.     In the evening a Seminar was held at Officers’ Club in which Shri Monoj Mohanta, Marine Engineer, Shri Shashi Sekhar,  Asst.  Manager, IOCL and Capt. Prasant Sahu, Pilot deliberated on the topic“MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on” .

 
   The first celebration of World Maritime Day was done on 17 March 1978 to mark the occasion of enforcing first convention of IMO in 1958 and since then every year, during last week of September, the World Maritime Day is observed globally.

Awareness Programme on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace.

The Internal Committee (IC) under Working Women Cell of Paradip Port Authority had arranged an awareness programme in the Conference Hall of Paradip Port Authority relating to Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)     Act, 2013 on Dt.28.09.2023. Dr. Purusottam Chuli, Advocate, High Court of Orissa-cum Guest Faculty, M. S. Law University, Cuttack was invited as the Guest to deliver a speech on the above topic in order to create awareness among the working women of Paradip Port Authority. Dr. P. N. Baheker, Secretary, PPA, Sri Muralidhar Pradhan, Advisor (Legal), PPA, Mrs. Susmita Samal, Chairperson, IC, Dr. Runu Singh, Convenor & Member, IC and all members of Internal Committee were present in the said meeting and put their best efforts to make the gathering a success.   There was also gathering of lady employees along with male employees of PPA, which led the awareness programme fruitful and hopefully it will be helpful to the Internal Committee as well as to the working women employees of Paradip Port Authority to eradicate any type of Sexual Harassment at the work place.  

India’s First Lighthouse Festival begins in Goa from Tomorrow.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Chief Minister of Goa Shri Pramod Sawant to inaugurate the historic festival at Fort Aguada Lighthouse.
 

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal is going to inaugurate India’s First Lighthouse Festival from the Fort Aguada Lighthouse in Panjim, Goa tomorrow. The three days festival, beginning 23rd September and ending on 25th September, will be celebrated across all the lighthouses in the country in an effort to transform these historic spots as tourist destinations. The inaugural session will also be attended by the Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism, Shri Shripad Naik as well as Tourism Minister of Goa, Shri Rohan Khaunte among others.

Shri Sonowal, earlier launched a campaign ‘Lighthouse Heritage Tourism’ to transform 75 historic lighthouses into Tourism Spots. The historic lighthouses are being renovated with adequate facilities to act as tourist spots. The festival is logical outcome of this campaign by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) to transform 75 historic lighthouses across India into tourism spots. This is in line with the visionary approach of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to transform India’s distinctive lighthouses into captivating tourism sites. The initiative aims to showcase the rich culture, significance, and allure of these magnificent structures whereby they can propel prospect of tourism and power local economy.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said, “It is a moment of great happiness for everyone  in the team at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways as we begin this historic Lighthouse festival across the country from tomorrow. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, we remain committed to the cause of nation building. Lighthouses, that were long ignored from any potential value creation beyond their role as navigational tool, were identified by Prime Minister Narendra Modiji to be developed into a touristic point of view and allow them to become lynchpin of local tourism and, at the same time, generate income for the country. Modi ji shared this vision with all of us during the 75th episode of Mann Ki Baat and we are happy that this wonderful idea has now become a reality. While ships continue to be guided for safe sailing by these lighthouses, they will now offer their solace to people to relish the magnificent beauty of nature.”

India’s first ever Lighthouse Festival will be held at the historic Fort Aguada in Goa from 23^rd-25^th September, 2023. This would be a three day gala event in carnival style with local artists, dance troupes, food and culinary stalls, music concerts and similar activities to attract common people to Lighthouses. The festival also witness historians, archaeologist, cultural anthropologist and many other people with interest in history, culture and society participate in intriguing discussions around our marine history during this event. 

Swachhata Pakhwada 2023 at Paradip Port Authority.

PPA began the observance of “Swachhta Pakhwada” today. It started with a Swachhata Pledge administered by Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA to HoDs, Dy. HoDs, officers & employees at the Portico in front of PPA Administrative Building.

PPA has already drawn up a detailed Action plan for the period, as part of  Swachhta Pakhwada viz., awareness drive among workers and staff of all Departments & Divisions of PPA, swachhata awareness hoardings, Swacchata Rath, Cleaning of Pump Houses and electronic display at important locations in the township.

India and Russia explore Northern Sea Route (NSR), Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) in an effort to widen maritime cooperation.

India and Russia agree on training for seafarers in polar & Arctic waters at Russian Maritime Training Institute in Vladivostok
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal meets Russian Minister for Development of Far East & Arctic
India Russia Joint Maritime Commission to facilitate constructive discussion on various issues regarding development of the Northern Sea Route: Shri Sonowal

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal met with the Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, Mr. A.O. Chekunkov at the Pavilion of Kamchatka Territory, “Far East Street” in Vladivostok, Russia today. During the meeting, both the leaders discussed wide range of items of maritime communication between India and Russia to widen maritime cooperation including possibility of usage of new transport corridors like the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as well as the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) between Vladivostok and Chennai. It was also decided that India and Russia agreed to train of Indian seafarersin Polar and Arctic waters at the Russian Maritime Training Institute, named after GI Admiral Nevelsky, which is equipped with simulator training facilities, in Vladivostok, Russia.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sonowal said, “The relationship between Russia and India has deep historical roots and is based on mutual respect and shared interests. We remain committed to maintaining strong ties and fostering strategic cooperation across various sectors. With the support from the Russian government, our team visited the ports of Vladivostok, Vostochny, Nakhodka and Kozmino in May, 2023, which helped us gain insights and collaboration forged during the visits to these ports has contributed to our understanding of requirements for the full-scale operationalisation of the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC). Our proposed workshop in Chennai will discuss the operationalisation of the EMC, and we envision to involve pertinent stakeholders involved in the trading and transportation of potential commodities such as coking coal, oil, and liquefied natural gas along this corridor. I am also happy to inform you that we have extended an invitation to Russia to participate at the upcoming Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023.”

Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, Mr. A.O. Chekunkov, said, “We discussed the development of maritime communications between our countries, as well as the prospects for using the Northern Sea Route. This dynamic of contacts is the foundation for further strengthening our partnership. Cooperation with the Republic of India is one of the priorities of the international activities of our Ministry; we intend to develop relations with Indian partners in the Far East in all areas of mutual interest.”

Highlighting the role of other alternative routes for exploring trade and commerce opportunities between India and Russia, Shri Sonowal said, “India is keen to collaborate a partnership regarding the development of the Northern Sea route, recognising the potential it holds for enhanced connectivity and trade.”

Speaking on the alternative routes for trade, Mr AO Chekunkov said, “We agree with your conclusions that the potential cargo base of the line will be coking coal, oil, LNG and fertilizers. In the Far East, this product range is present in sufficient quantities, and in the east of India, the infrastructure to receive it is being built up. Taking into account the specialization of the Far Eastern ports, the project should be implemented in an expanded geographical scope, including other regions in addition to Primorye, primarily the Khabarovsk Territory. We are ready to visit Chennai this October on a business mission and, with the participation of leading Russian exporters, to develop mutually beneficial solutions with the Indian side for the launch of the above lines. The NSR is a global transport project. Its development can provide economic benefits to both Russia and non-regional states. For India, this is an opportunity to increase sales of shipbuilding products and gain income from participation in the general logistics business in northern latitudes.”

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways gears up for the Special campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters - Swachhta Campaign 3.0.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW ) is fully committed towards the goals of cleaner and more efficient tomorrow and putting in commensurate efforts to achieve these. During Swachhta Campaign 2.0 during November, 2022 till August 2023 MoPSW has achieved remarkable milestones. All Major ports and other subordinate/attached offices of the Ministry have worked tirelessly in this direction.

Ministry has addressed 340 Public Grievances out of 411; organized 456 cleanliness campaigns which made the surroundings cleaner and more sustainable; around 12425 sq.ft space has been freed up. This Swachhta campaign has also generated revenue of  ₹ 25,46,76, 157. In this process 62,612 old files have been identified and weeded. 

As decided by DARPG in order to give further impetus to the exercise, the Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) will also implement the Special Campaign 3.0 from 2- 31st October, 2023 for institutionalizing cleanliness and minimizing pendency.  MoPSW and its subordinate/attached offices viz Ports, ALHW, SCI, DGLL, IWAI, SCL SDCL, IPRCL, IPA etc. shall actively participate in the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM) 3.0 campaign. During this campaign, special attention will be given to field/outstation offices in addition to the Ministries / Departments and their attached/ subordinate offices.

Join us in the exciting journey of Special Campaign 3.0. A groundbreaking initiative aimed at drastically reducing pendency in government offices. More efficient service delivery to citizens by making their lives easier & more convenient.#SwachhataCampaign#SecretariatReforms pic.twitter.com/uMCKx7XDSQ

— Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (@shipmin_india) September 11, 2023

The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) would be the nodal Department for monitoring and implementation of the campaign. The Government organised similar Special Campaigns in the years 2021 and 2022 as well.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal extends invitation for an Indo Russian Workshop on Eastern Maritime Corridor in Chennai.

Indo Russian Workshop to provide a common meeting ground among the port authorities of Russian Far East and India, representatives of Russian railways, logistics/shipping companies of both countries.

Coking Coal trade transport between India and Russia to start early operationalisation of EMC: Shri Sonowal.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal extended an invitation for an Indo Russian Workshop on Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) in Vladivostok, Russia today. Shri Sonowal was addressing at the session aimed at forging possibilities on early operationalisation of EMC as an alternative trade route between Russian port city of Vladivostok and Indian port city of Chennai. The workshop is proposed to take place from 30 October to 1st November, 2023 in Chennai, India.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister, said, “The operationalisation of Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) will usher a new era of trade relationship between India and Russia. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India remains firmly committed towards making innovative solutions that will enhance and further foster the strong bilateral relationship between our two great nations. As our teams hedged their effort for an early operationalisation of EMC, the visit to Vladivostok, Vostochny, Nakhodka and Kozmino was particularly helpful. Taking this forward, I propose for a Workshop of all stakeholders at Chennai in India and extend our invitation to this workshop where we can meet, interact and discuss for smooth and swift operationalisation of EMC.”

The Russian government also expressed their desire to visit the Chennai port with a large business delegation to explore opportunities and possibilities through bilateral discussion with their Indian business delegation. The Russian delegation was represented by Sergey Mochalnikov, Deputy Minister of Energy Minister, Russian Federation and Maxim Reshetnikov, Ministry of Economic Development of Russian Federation. The session was moderated by Denis Ilatovsky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Commercial Seaports.

Speaking about India’s maritime programme and its flagship programme Sagarmala, the Minister said, “Under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, in 2015, our transformative Flagship Initiative of Sagarmala was launched with the objective to boost India’s logistics sector performance, by unlocking the full potential of India’s coastline and waterways. The vision of Sagarmala is to reduce logistics cost for both domestic and EXIM cargo with optimised infrastructure investment through port-led development. Currently, there are 802 projects worth investment of more than 65 Billion US Dollars for implementation under the Sagarmala Programme by 2035. Out of which, 228 projects worth 14.6 Billion US Dollars have been completed and 260 projects worth 27 Billion US Dollars are under implementation. Further, 314 projects worth 24 Billion US Dollars are under various stages of development. Further, under holistic development of coastal districts, a total of 567 projects with an estimated cost of around 7 Billion US Dollars have been identified. Our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji envisioned holistic infrastructure development to improve the productivity and employment opportunities through integrated approach by developing, railways, roadways, waterways and airways via Prime Minister Gati Shakti National Master Plan programme. The Gathishakti plan has become the basis of India’ rejuvenation to manufacture world-class products using new-age technology and cutting-edge innovation.”

Valery Prokopchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Government of Primorye Region; Pavel Kalmychek, Department for Bipartite Cooperation Development, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation; Sergey Berezkin, CEO of Ruscon LLC also spoke at the session. Pavan Kapoor, India’s Ambassador to Russia; S. K. Mehta, Chairman, Deendayal Port Authority; Vladimir Panov, Rosatom Special Representative for the Arctic Development; Dmitry Prokhorenko, Director for Foreign Network Development, Russian Export Center JSC also attended the session. Both the parties also discussed about modern infrastructure in ports and ways and means to ensure cargo volume for the shipping industry. The Deputy Chairman of Chennai Port Authority, S Viswanathan delivered a presentation on the “Сapabilities of Indian ports and prospects for operationalisation of Chennai-Vladivostok corridor.”Elena Kazarina, Commercial Director of the Port, Vladivostok Commercial Sea Port also delivered a presentation on “Development of FESCO's Deep Sea routes and further directions of transport and logistics relations between Russia and India.” Denis Ilatovsky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Commercial Seaports, delivered the welcome address as well as closing remarks.

It may be recalled that a Memorandum of Intent on Development of Maritime Communications between the two Ports of Vladivostok and Chennai was exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President Putin during Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September 2019. Subsequently, an independent study found that coking coal as the most suitable commodity for trade between the two countries using EMC. In due course, more commodities like oil, LNG, fertilisers to be added to the list of commodities transported via EMC.

Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) is estimated to reduce the time required to transport cargo between Indian and Russian Ports of Far-East Region by up to 16 days, i.e., 24 days in comparison to over 40 days currently taken to transport goods from India to Far East Russia via Europe. Present trade route between Mumbai in India and St Petersburg in Russia covers a distance of 8,675 nautical miles which takes approximately 35 to 40 days. The Chennai-Vladivostok sea route (EMC) will be covering a distance of about 5,600 nautical miles. A large container ship which travels at the normal cruising speed of 20-25 knots (37-46 km/hour), will be able to cover this distance in approximately 10 to 12 days. This corridor holds immense potential to unlock new opportunities for trade and cooperation.

Shri Sonowal also highlighted the major takeaways from the recently concluded G20 summit in New Delhi, under India’s presidency. The inclusion of African Union (AU) into the G20 depicts ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ philosophy. India also successfully championed as the voice of the global south, while advocating for advancing climate action and sustainable development, promotion of digital transformation and innovation, strengthening global health and pandemic preparedness as well as enhancing multilateralism and cooperation.  He said, “Our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also effectively communicated India's message of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (One Earth, One Family, One Future), fostering a sense of global solidarity and cooperation. The G20 presidency under Narendra Modi has been a watershed moment in India's global standing. It has demonstrated India's ability to lead on global issues and shape the international agenda. The achievements of the Indian presidency will continue to inspire and guide the G20 in the years to come.”

Shri Sonowal is on a five day official visit to Russia. Tomorrow, he is scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart, Vitaly Saveliev, Minister for Transport of Russia, among other important bilateral engagements. India’s Port Minister is also slated to visit the Vladivostok port tomorrow.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal leaves for Russia to represent India at the Eastern Economic Forum, 2023 to be held in Vladivostok.

Shri Sonowal will also address stakeholders meet for the ‘Eastern Maritime Corridor’ to operationalise Chennai-Vladivostok route as an alternative trade route.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal left for Russia to represent India at the Eastern Economic Forum which is being held at the Russian port city of Vladivostok. The Minister is scheduled to meet Alexey Chekunkov, Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic; Vitaly Saveliev, Minister for Transport of Russia among others with an objective to maintain strong ties and foster strategic, trade and logistical cooperation across various sectors.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said, “It is indeed a matter of great honour and responsibility that I was provided with the opportunity to lead our great country at the prestigious Eastern Economic Forum. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the historic ties between India and Russia has reached a new height as we strengthen our trade and commerce. In view of this renewed vigour in the Indo Russian relationship, we have been working together to develop an alternative trade route between historic port cities of Vladivostok in Russia and Chennai in India. I believe during my visit and meetings with the leadership of Russia, we will be able to make progress in this important venture apart from fostering strategic, trade and logistical cooperation between the two countries.”

Shri Sonowal will be addressing the India Russia Business Dialogue at the Eastern Economic Forum where he will be highlighting the pivotal role of trade, commerce and business in fostering stability and sustainability within the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia. India’s Shipping Minister will also be speaking at the session on Eastern Maritime Corridor, while also meeting senior ministers of Russian Federation on possibilities to further strengthen the bilateral relation between the two countries, including exploring possibilities of the Northern Sea Route and establishing a Trans Shipment Hub in the Bay of Bengal.

The Eastern Maritime Corridor is aimed at reducing cargo transit times between our nations. The journey from Indian ports to the Russian Far East takes just 24 days, compared to 30 days through the port of Novorossiysk. This corridor holds immense potential to unlock new opportunities for trade and cooperation for both India and Russia.

About Eastern Economic Forum, 2023: The 8th Eastern Economic Forum 2023 is taking place on 10–13 September 2023 in Vladivostok on the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) campus. The Eastern Economic Forum is a key international platform for establishing and strengthening ties within the Russian and global investment communities, and for comprehensive expert evaluation of the economic potential of the Russian Far East, the investment opportunities it offers, and business conditions within advanced special economic zones.

The Eastern Economic Forum was established by decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in 2015 to support the economic development of Russia’s Far East and to expand international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Global Maritime India Summit 2023: Roadshow in Bhubaneswar sets the stage fostering the nation's collective Maritime aspirations

Bhubaneswar, September 05, 2023: In the run-up to the third edition of the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS) 2023,the Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), & AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, gave a special address at the roadshow held at Mayfair Convention, Bhubaneswar, today. The minister noted that India is on the cusp of a new era in its maritime sector and that the country is beginning a journey of progress through technological advancements and infrastructure enhancement for a welcoming business environment. The event gathered eminent minds and industry leaders, igniting discussions around key opportunities, innovation, and the roadmap towards a sustainable future for Indian Maritime industry.

Shri Sonowal emphasised in his special message that "These roadshows exemplify our commitment to fostering linkages and collaboration in order to advance the Indian Maritime Industry. The Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and establishing GMIS 2023 as a hub driving growth while supporting our Government's broad goals are essential to our transformational journey towards maritime excellence.”

Additionally, he stated that "India is strengthening its position as a global centre for the blue economy, taking the lead in crafting the next phase of South Asia's maritime history. This roadshow highlights both our shared cultural ties and our commitment as a group to make a substantial regional impact.

Shri Shantanu Thakur, Hon’ble Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India, conveyed his perspective on the summit's objectives, highlighting, "Today's event mirrors our nation's collective maritime aspirations, underlining Bhubaneswar pivotal role in this united voyage."

He also added "Maritime India sets sail towards a transformative future with the ambitious Vision 2030! From record-breaking cargo traffic and port capacity growth to cutting-edge legislative reforms, India's maritime sector charts a course for international excellence. With increased autonomy and global best practices, we're making waves in ease of doing business. The world takes note as India's Maritime prowess continues to surge, contributing 12% to global seafarers and fostering port-led industrialization. This is just the beginning of our maritime journey!"

He further emphasized on strategic importance of promoting maritime development and connectivity in a region like Bhubaneswar, which holds both historical maritime significance and considerable economic promise. The event brought together industry experts and government officials, fostering dynamic discussions on crucial opportunities within the Indian Maritime sector.

Bhushan Kumar, Joint secretary, Ministry of Ports, shipping and waterways, Government of Indiaadded, “We anticipate a surge in automated ports and terminals as we have strategically aligned all future developments underthe Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. This partnership with the private sector is poised to not only elevate the efficiency of our ports but also revolutionize their performance and enhanced productivity standards."

Shri PL Haranadh, IRTS, Chairperson, PPA in his welcome address said that “The GMIS 2023 is a great opportunity not only for Paradip Port but also for other ports of Odisha like Gopalpur, Dhamra, Subarnarekha, and Astaranga ports. All these ports should not compete, but collaborate and cooperate with each other to provide a logistically convenient ecosystem to all the stakeholders in Odisha”

Conveying a significant message that underscores influential endeavours targeted at strengthening the foundational aspects of the maritime industry, Shri Hemant Sharma, IAS principal secretary, Industries Department, Govt. of Odisha said that "Our government sails full steam ahead in recognizing the maritime sector's pivotal role in our nation's industrial development. As we set sail towards the Global Maritime Investment Summit 2023, it's a tide of opportunity for our maritime industries. We invite global investors to ride this wave, boosting growth, jobs, and innovation in our maritime businesses. Join us at the summit to not only showcase our industry but also chart a course for collaboration, forge partnerships, and navigate toward a brighter future together."

Smt. Usha Padhee, IAS, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department, Govt. of Odishaadds “We will be bringing in our ideas and thought processes, which can be shared, and I request all our entrepreneurs here, who are the stakeholders in the entire domain be a part of it. Together, we can grow, and we can be the leader, which we deserve at the global level”.

MR. V Janardhana Rao, Chief Executive Officer, Gopalpur Ports ltd and Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, COO, Dhamra port, also spoke on the occasion and gave a brief about their respective ports’ vision and contribution to the state economy.

Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta, IRS, Deputy Chairman, PPA gave vote of thanks for the event and thanked the Odisha government for hosting a successful pre-event curtain raiser to the GMIS 2023 which will help in boosting the infrastructure and the economy of the state.

The 7th roadshow, led by the Port of Paradip, paves the way for the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, happening from October 17-19, 2023, at Bharat Mandapam, ITPO, Delhi. Previous roadshows unfolded in Chennai, Kolkata, Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam, Goa, and Guwahati. GMIS aims to ignite connections, foster collaboration, and inspire innovation under the theme 'Connect, Collaborate & Create,' with FICCI as the exclusive industry partner.

About Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023:

GMIS 2023 is a premier maritime sector focussed event to bring together pivotal figures from the industry to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and stimulate investment within India's maritime sector. Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions, this third instalment aims to unveil broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors. Ready to make its presence felt on the global stage and spotlight India's maritime industry, the Maritime India Summit has now evolved to the 'Global' Maritime India Summit this year. The summit is slated for 17th to 19th October 2023, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with FICCI as the exclusive industry partner.

For more details on the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, including a complete agenda and registration details, please visit the official website at www.maritimeindiasummit.com

 Photo Caption:

From Left to Right: Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta, Deputy Chairperson, Paradip Port Authority; Shri Bhushan Kumar, Joint Secretary (Sagarmala), Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India; Shri P L Haranadh, Chairperson, Paradip Port Authority; Shri Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Odisha; Smt Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department, Government of Odisha; Shri V Janardhana Rao, Chief Executive Officer, Gopalpur Ports Limited; Shri Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Dhamra Port

Bhubaneswar, September 05, 2023: In the run-up to the third edition of the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS) 2023,the Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), & AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, gave a special address at the roadshow held at Mayfair Convention, Bhubaneswar, today. The minister noted that India is on the cusp of a new era in its maritime sector and that the country is beginning a journey of progress through technological advancements and infrastructure enhancement for a welcoming business environment. The event gathered eminent minds and industry leaders, igniting discussions around key opportunities, innovation, and the roadmap towards a sustainable future for Indian Maritime industry.

Shri Sonowal emphasised in his special message that "These roadshows exemplify our commitment to fostering linkages and collaboration in order to advance the Indian Maritime Industry. The Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and establishing GMIS 2023 as a hub driving growth while supporting our Government's broad goals are essential to our transformational journey towards maritime excellence.”

Additionally, he stated that "India is strengthening its position as a global centre for the blue economy, taking the lead in crafting the next phase of South Asia's maritime history. This roadshow highlights both our shared cultural ties and our commitment as a group to make a substantial regional impact.

Shri Shantanu Thakur, Hon’ble Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India, conveyed his perspective on the summit's objectives, highlighting, "Today's event mirrors our nation's collective maritime aspirations, underlining Bhubaneswar pivotal role in this united voyage."

He also added "Maritime India sets sail towards a transformative future with the ambitious Vision 2030! From record-breaking cargo traffic and port capacity growth to cutting-edge legislative reforms, India's maritime sector charts a course for international excellence. With increased autonomy and global best practices, we're making waves in ease of doing business. The world takes note as India's Maritime prowess continues to surge, contributing 12% to global seafarers and fostering port-led industrialization. This is just the beginning of our maritime journey!"

He further emphasized on strategic importance of promoting maritime development and connectivity in a region like Bhubaneswar, which holds both historical maritime significance and considerable economic promise. The event brought together industry experts and government officials, fostering dynamic discussions on crucial opportunities within the Indian Maritime sector.

Bhushan Kumar, Joint secretary, Ministry of Ports, shipping and waterways, Government of Indiaadded, “We anticipate a surge in automated ports and terminals as we have strategically aligned all future developments underthe Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. This partnership with the private sector is poised to not only elevate the efficiency of our ports but also revolutionize their performance and enhanced productivity standards."

Shri PL Haranadh, IRTS, Chairperson, PPA in his welcome address said that “The GMIS 2023 is a great opportunity not only for Paradip Port but also for other ports of Odisha like Gopalpur, Dhamra, Subarnarekha, and Astaranga ports. All these ports should not compete, but collaborate and cooperate with each other to provide a logistically convenient ecosystem to all the stakeholders in Odisha”

Conveying a significant message that underscores influential endeavours targeted at strengthening the foundational aspects of the maritime industry, Shri Hemant Sharma, IAS principal secretary, Industries Department, Govt. of Odisha said that "Our government sails full steam ahead in recognizing the maritime sector's pivotal role in our nation's industrial development. As we set sail towards the Global Maritime Investment Summit 2023, it's a tide of opportunity for our maritime industries. We invite global investors to ride this wave, boosting growth, jobs, and innovation in our maritime businesses. Join us at the summit to not only showcase our industry but also chart a course for collaboration, forge partnerships, and navigate toward a brighter future together."

Smt. Usha Padhee, IAS, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department, Govt. of Odishaadds “We will be bringing in our ideas and thought processes, which can be shared, and I request all our entrepreneurs here, who are the stakeholders in the entire domain be a part of it. Together, we can grow, and we can be the leader, which we deserve at the global level”.

MR. V Janardhana Rao, Chief Executive Officer, Gopalpur Ports ltd and Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, COO, Dhamra port, also spoke on the occasion and gave a brief about their respective ports’ vision and contribution to the state economy.

Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta, IRS, Deputy Chairman, PPA gave vote of thanks for the event and thanked the Odisha government for hosting a successful pre-event curtain raiser to the GMIS 2023 which will help in boosting the infrastructure and the economy of the state.

The 7th roadshow, led by the Port of Paradip, paves the way for the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, happening from October 17-19, 2023, at Bharat Mandapam, ITPO, Delhi. Previous roadshows unfolded in Chennai, Kolkata, Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam, Goa, and Guwahati. GMIS aims to ignite connections, foster collaboration, and inspire innovation under the theme 'Connect, Collaborate & Create,' with FICCI as the exclusive industry partner.

About Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023:

GMIS 2023 is a premier maritime sector focussed event to bring together pivotal figures from the industry to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and stimulate investment within India's maritime sector. Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions, this third instalment aims to unveil broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors. Ready to make its presence felt on the global stage and spotlight India's maritime industry, the Maritime India Summit has now evolved to the 'Global' Maritime India Summit this year. The summit is slated for 17th to 19th October 2023, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with FICCI as the exclusive industry partner.

For more details on the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, including a complete agenda and registration details, please visit the official website at www.maritimeindiasummit.com

 Photo Caption:

From Left to Right: Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta, Deputy Chairperson, Paradip Port Authority; Shri Bhushan Kumar, Joint Secretary (Sagarmala), Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India; Shri P L Haranadh, Chairperson, Paradip Port Authority; Shri Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Odisha; Smt Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department, Government of Odisha; Shri V Janardhana Rao, Chief Executive Officer, Gopalpur Ports Limited; Shri Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Dhamra Port

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to Host Roadshow in Bhubaneswar: Unveiling Maritime Excellence.

Bhubaneswar, 4th August 2023: The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways announces a pre-event roadshow in Bhubaneswar, as a precursor to the highly anticipated 3rd Global Maritime

India Summit (GMIS) 2023. The roadshow is scheduled to take place on 5th September 2023 at Mayfair Convention bringing together government dignitaries, industry captains, maritime stakeholders, and enthusiasts.  

The Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways & Ministry of Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, will grace the occasion through a special video message, joined by Shri Hemant Sharma, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Govt. of Odisha,Smt. Usha Padhee, IAS, Principal Secretary, Commerce & Transport Department, Govt. of Odisha, Shri Bhushan Kumar, Joint Secretary (Sagarmala), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, GOI,Mr. V Janardhana Rao, Chief Executive Officer, Gopalpur Ports Ltd., Shri Devendra Thakar, Chief Executive Officer, Dhamra Port,  and from Paradip Port,Shri P L Haranadh, IRTS, Chairperson, PPA, and Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta,IRS,Dy. Chairperson, PPA.

Anchored by theParadip Port authority, the Bhubaneswar roadshow is a precursor to the third Global Maritime India Summit later this year, which will assemble government dignitaries, industry captains, maritime stakeholders, and enthusiasts. The Summit is poised to be a landmark event that will shape the industry's future, fortifying India's position as a global maritime leader.

Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal articulated his anticipation for the roadshow, declaring, "He added "Drawing inspiration from the forward-thinking guidance of the esteemed Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Ministry is orchestrating the GMIS, scheduled to take place from October 17 to 19, 2023, at Bharat Positioned at the heart of India's maritime domain, Paradip Port plays a vital and irreplaceable role, forming a crucial foundation for the nation's journey of progress. The significant and remarkable input from this area enhances both trade and links, thus nurturing a wider expanse of economic growth. More than just a maritime entry point, this port embodies the economic strength of the region and stands as a concrete symbol of our steadfast commitment to boosting trade, promoting connections, and nurturing social unity."

Mandapam. I hold the belief that the deliberations and partnerships during this occasion will chart the course for a prosperous Global Maritime India Summit 2023. This gathering will provide a forum for all invested parties to uncover and leverage the vast opportunities within the maritime domain."

The event will further showcase stimulating dialogues that are expected to redefine the journey of the maritime sector. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways extends an invitation to all ship-owners, seafarers, Ports, placement agencies, recognized organisations, multimodal transport operators, equipment manufacturers, Maritime Training Institutes, service suppliers, service users, PSUs, and all other stakeholders tojoin the roadshow and take part in shaping the dialogue around the future of the Indian maritime sector.

About Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023: 

GMIS 2023 is a premier maritime sector focussed event to bring together pivotal figures from the industry to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and stimulate investment within India's maritime sector. Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions, this third instalment aims to unveil broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors. Ready to make its presence felt on the global stage and spotlight India's maritime industry, the Maritime India Summit has now evolved to the 'Global' Maritime India Summit this year. The summit is slated for 17th to 19th October 2023, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with FICCI as the exclusive industry partner. 

For more details on the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, including a complete agenda and registration details, please visit the official website at www.maritimeindiasummit.com  

Shri Shantanu Thakur asks stakeholders to join and participate in Global Maritime India Summit 2023.

As part of series of roadshows under the guidance and direction of Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways for inviting and attracting clients and various stakeholders to participate actively in forthcoming Global Maritime India Summit scheduled to be held in October in New Delhi, Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL) organized a virtual roadshow today. This had a pan India presence involving corporate and regional & site offices of IPRCL across various States in India. Representatives from Zonal Railways, State Maritime Boards, MoRTH, Major Ports, major Government sector units like Coal India Ltd., NICDC, NTPC, OMC, NALCO participated in the roadshow. Various industrial bodies and corporate units like JSW, Vedanta, Tata Steel, Jindal Power, Thriveni, Pipava Port, Rungta Mines, Legacy Warehouse, Ennore Tank Terminal, URC and various other units were active participants in the roadshow. More than 190 participants were available in the roadshow consisting of Central and State Government agencies, Railways, Ports, Maritime Boards and various officials from different corporate and industrial units related to maritime, infrastructure, logistics and other sectors.

The Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) Shri Shantanu Thakur virtually graced the occasion inspiring the stakeholders to join and participate in GMIS – 23. He said that GMIS-23 will provide viable opportunity to connect with industry leaders, innovators and business experts in maritime sector around the world and to collaborate and discuss. He further highlighted that the summit will also offer an unparallel opportunity to showcase talent and forge new partnership for gaining insights into national and global port related industrial, infrastructure and logistics opportunities. He mentioned that this event is inspired by our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s inspiring vision of making Indian maritime sector as a leading blue economy of the world.

In his inaugural speech Managing Director, IPRCL Shri Anil Kumar Gupta emphasized that the roadshow will be an enlightening experience, focused on providing stakeholders with comprehensive insights into forthcoming GMIS-23 involving global participation. Summarizing business opportunities in the GMIS-23, Shri Gupta explained that by attending this event, clients will gain access to a wealth of knowledge, expert perspectives, opportunity to collaborate and build a wider network.

A presentation was shown to all clients highlighting the professional profile of IPRCL and essential information about GMIS-23. Presentation widely covered the success journey of Indian Maritime sector and the growth trajectory since last decade in various areas of maritime industry. The smart port, green shipping, capacity enhancement through automation, ship building & recycling, maritime tourism, inland waterways grids, maritime safety & security were deliberated for the knowledge of clients. Corporate video of GMIS was also presented to enlighten clients about business opportunities in GMIS. Shri Anang Pal Malik, Director Works and Shri R.K. Lal, CGM Business Development, IPRCL interacted with clients flagging advantages for business growth and collaboration by participating in Global Maritime India Summit 2023.

Senior officers from South-Eastern Coalfields Ltd. and JNPA represented their companies as Guest speakers and highlighted business opportunities which companies will gain during GMIS-23.

Government to set up Bureau of Port Security soon: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

Shri Sonowal Announces Comprehensive Plan to Surpass 10,000 MTPA Port Capacity by 2047.
Major Investment and Private Sector Augmentation Announced: Over 10 Lakh Crore.
Investment Opportunities Identified; Cargo Movement on National Waterways to Achieve 500 MTPA by 2047.
All Central Government and State Government Ports to Explore Setting up Hydrogen Hubs.

The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), & AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled a vision for India's maritime sector, outlining key initiatives that promise a transformative impact tt the 19th Maritime States Development Council meeting today in Kevadia, Gujarat.

Shri Sonowal spotlighted that the Government will soon put together the Bureau of Port Security towards upgrading security across all the ports in the country. He also highlighted the Government’s focus on sustainable development and shared about the Ministry’s ambitious plan to develop Hydrogen Hubs across the Central Government and State Government ports. He said, “All Central Government and State Government ports will explore the possibility of creating Hydrogen Hubs.” He added that Deendayal Port Authority has already finalised MoUs worth Rs 1.68 lakh crore for this venture.

In addition, Shri Sonowal announced, emphasising the country's commitment to quadrupling its port capacity under the Amrit Kaal Vision for Ports. He underlined that all major ports have prepared their Port Master Plans for 2047, and states are also getting their Port Master Plans for 2047 ready. "The total country’s Port capacity will increase from existing around 2,600 MTPA to more than 10,000 MTPA in 2047," he said.

The two-day 19th Maritime State Development Council meeting at Kevadia, Gujarat, organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to enhance better coordination between major and notified ports, State Maritime Boards, State Governments and Union Territories (UTs) concluded today. MSDC is an apex advisory body constituted in May 1997 to develop the Maritime Sector. It aims to ensure the integrated development of Major and other notified ports.

Shri Sonowal added, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, MoPSW is marking new achievements. He always believes in better cooperation, and the Maritime States Development Council emerges as a critical mechanism of cooperation and plays a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of our Nation's maritime sector.”

The Minister also alluded to India's growing maritime stature and the upcoming Global Maritime India Summit 2023. The Union Minister announced that all maritime states and Union Territories will participate in the GMIS 2023, making it one of the largest summits in the country. Global Maritime India Summit 2023 is scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 17th-19th October 2023. GMIS 2023 is a premier maritime sector-focused event to bring together pivotal figures from the industry to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and stimulate investment within India's maritime sector. Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions of 2016 and 2021, this third edition of the summit aims to unveil broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors. Delegates from more than 100 countries are expected to participate in the summit with exhibitors and investors from various domains of the maritime sector.

Besides, the Minister underscored that the country’s maritime sector is currently poised for substantial growth, with investment opportunities identified to be more than 10 lakh crore. He stressed that this burgeoning financial prospect is more than an economic boom; it symbolises an opportunity to generate employment for over 15 lakh youths in the country, intertwining economic advancement with social empowerment. In alignment with this vision, the role of private players is being progressively augmented, with Public-Private Partnership (PPP) terminals currently handling about 50% of the cargo at major ports and efforts underway to raise their share to approximately 85% in the coming decades. This strategic move towards privatisation is expected to enhance efficiency and facilitate the scaling of operations. Furthermore, there is a discernible focus on enhancing cargo movement on India's National Waterways, which witnessed a 16% year-on-year increase in the last fiscal year. Ambitious targets have been set to achieve a substantial quantum of 500 MTPA by 2047, underlining the government's commitment to leveraging the maritime sector as a catalyst for comprehensive national growth.

Shri Sonowal alluded to the Sagarmala Programme, noting that over the past eight years, the strategic initiatives of the Sagarmala Programme have significantly enhanced port capacity, connectivity, and operational efficiency, driving down costs, shortening vessel turnaround times, accommodating larger ships, and elevating the strategic relevance of Indian ports in the South Asian region. Shri Sonowal encouraged all Coastal States and Union Territories Governments to offer unwavering support to MoPSW, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Railways in expediting these vital projects.

While addressing the gathering, Shri Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State, MoPSW, said, “A steadfast emphasis should be placed on embracing new-age technologies, fostering sustainable living practices, and ensuring environmental safety. By diligently addressing these key aspects, we can collectively contribute to the holistic betterment of our coastal populations.”

Shri Shantanu Thakur, Union Minister of State, MoPSW, said, “The Indian maritime sector assumes unparalleled importance as a cornerstone of our nation's economy, security, and strategic advancement. Furthermore, due to our expansive coastline, this sector supports coastal livelihoods and nurtures sustainable development. Its resilient infrastructure bears multifaceted significance in propelling India's journey towards excellence both domestically and internationally.”

Raghavji Patel, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Gujarat, stated "In Gujarat, our commitment to sustainable growth in the maritime sector drives innovation and prosperity, charting a course towards a vibrant maritime future for India". He further added, "Let's sail together towards a sustainable and prosperous maritime sector, elevating India's maritime prowess to new horizons."

Shri Mankal Vaidya, the Minister of State for Fisheries, Ports, and Inland Water Transport, Karnataka, emphasized on the importance of collaborative efforts in developing Karnataka's maritime sector during the meeting. He said “I express gratitude for the approval of key projects and urged swift approvals for pending initiatives to boost cargo handling capacity and maritime development in the state.”

Expressing his thoughts, the Minister for Public works, Tamil Nadu, Thiru EV Velu stated "Tamil Nadu's unique coastal vision shines at the 19th MSDC meeting. We're grateful for the support and eagerly anticipate the International Passenger Ferry service, bridging history and trade with Sri Lanka. Our commitment to marine planning, Coastal Tourism, and the Cuddalore Greenfield port underscores our dedication to maritime growth.”

On Day Two discussions were made upon the various development agendas related to the implementation of Sagarmala Programme; Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal, Gujarat; Development of National Waterways; Challenges and opportunities for promotion of RoPax/ Ferries; Urban Passenger Waterways Transportation; Road & Rail port connectivity; Success stories of Coastal States & UTs and Issues/ Challenges faced by State Maritime Boards.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways embarks on the 19th Maritime State Development Council meeting (MSDC) at Kevadia, Gujarat.

The 2-day conclave will deliberate better coordination between major and non-major Ports, Coastal Ports and Maritime Boards.

Consultation with State Government will assess the future development of existing and new other than Major ports by the respective Maritime States either directly or through captive users and private participation.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) embarked upon the 19^th Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) at Kevadia, Gujarat. The 2-day summit is chaired by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW in the august presence of Shri Shripad Naik Minister of State MoPSW, Shri Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State,MoPSW. Shri TK Ramachandaran, Secretary, MoPSW along with other senior officials from all coastal states, Union Territories, Ministries of Central Government, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, etc.

MSDC is an apex advisory body constituted in May 1997 for the development of the Maritime Sector to ensure integrated development of major and other than major ports. The day one of the summit incorporated various insightful sessions around the development of various projects, issues and challenges facing the sector and the significant achievements. The series of discourse threw up countless ideas to foster better coordination among major and non-major Ports, coastal Ports and maritime Boards.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, MoPSW T K Ramachandran said, “In our efforts to establish India as a major maritime hub, the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 will be a significant turning point. Through cooperative conversations and strategic alliances, we hope to advance our maritime industry towards sustainable growth that is supported by innovation and cutting-edge technology.”

Shri Ramachandran requested all Coastal States and Union Territories Governments to offer unwavering support to MoPSW in expediting these vital projects.

The first day of the meeting consisted of sessions related to Global Maritime India Summit 2023 (GMIS 2023) and the various achievements and opportunities across Coastal States & UTs. The day provided an opportunity to the senior officials and representatives from these states to share in detail about their participation in the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 which is scheduled to be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 17th-19th October 2023.

GMIS 2023 is a premier maritime sector focused event to bring together pivotal figures from the industry to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and stimulate investment within India's maritime sector. Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions of 2016 and 2021, this third edition of summit aims to unveil broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors. More than 100 countries and a number of delegates from them are expected to participate in the Summit with exhibitors and investors from various domains of the maritime sector.

On Day Two discussions will be around the various development agendas related to the implementation of Sagarmala Programme; Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal, Gujarat; Development of National Waterways; Challenges and opportunities for promotion of RoPax/ Ferries; Urban Passenger Waterways Transportation; Road & Rail port connectivity; Success stories of Coastal States & UTs and Issues/ Challenges faced by State Maritime Boards.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal to chair two-day 19thMeeting of the Maritime State Development Council from tomorrow at Kevadia, Gujarat.

Discussions to be held on significant issues pertaining to the overall progress of the maritime sector.

The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal to chair the 19^th meeting of the Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) scheduled on 18^th and 19^th August at Kevadia in Gujarat. During this, discussions will be focused upon significant issues pertaining to the overall progress of the maritime sector. The meeting will be attended by the the Chief Ministers, concerned Senior Ministers of the Coastal States and Administrators of UTs. The concerned Secretaries and Senior officials of all the 9 Coastal States and 4 UTs will also present there along with Senior Officials from various Ministries and Departments of Union Government.

Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) was constituted in the year 1997, is an apex advisory body for the development of maritime sector aimed to ensure development of Major and Non- Major ports in consultation with State governments. MSDC was constituted under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways with the Ministers in- charge of ports of all Maritime States, Administrators of UTs, Navy, Coast guard, and representatives from all relevant stakeholders.

MSDC is an apex advisory body for the development of the Maritime sector and aims to ensure integrated development of Major and non-Major Ports. It was constituted to assess in consultation with State Governments, the future development of existing and new Minor Ports by the respective Maritime States either directly or through captive users and private participation. Further, MSDC also monitors the development of minor ports, captive ports and private ports in the Maritime States with a view to ensure their integrated development with Major Ports and to assess the requirements of other infrastructure requirements like roads/rail/IWT and make suitable recommendations to the concerned Ministers.

The Council, in this meeting, will discuss upon the various development agendas related to the implementation of Sagarmala Programme; Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal, Gujarat; Development of National Waterways; Challenges and opportunities for promotion of RoPax/ Ferries; Urban Passenger Waterways Transportation; Road & Rail port connectivity; Success stories of Coastal States & UTs and Issues/ Challenges faced by State Maritime Boards.

A coordination meeting on the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 (GMIS 2023) & Maritime Excellence Achievers will also be held with senior officials of all Coastal States & UTs to discuss about their planning for participation in in the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 which is scheduled to be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 17^th-19^th October 2023.

GMIS 2023 is a premier maritime sector focused event to bring together pivotal figures from the industry to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and stimulate investment within India's maritime sector. Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions of 2016 and 2021, this third edition of summit aims to unveil broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors. More than 100 countries and a number of delegates from them are expected to participate in the Summit with exhibitors and investors from various domains of the maritime sector

PPA Celebrates Independence Day 2023.

77th Independence Day was celebrated by the Paradip Port Authority filled with patriotic fervour, flag hoisting and cultural events. Shri P.L. Harandh, Chairman, PPA hoisted the National Flag. Addressing the occasion, he said that various initiatives taken up by GoI under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister during the last 9 years have transformed the Indian maritime sector. The Sagarmala Programme has increased the capacity of the Major Ports from 800 MMTPA in 2015 to 1600 MMTPA by 2023. The Major Port Authority Act 2021 has propelled the dynamism and market flexibility in the Major Port Sector. Maritime India Vision 2030 has set up a platform for Major Ports to emerge as world-class Smart and Green Ports. The PM Gati Shakti master plan aims to create robust connectivity with hinterland from Ports.

Paradip Port achieved a major milestone as fastest Major Port by clocking record cargo throughput of 52.31 MMTPA Cargo on 14th August, 2023 in FY 2023-24, by exhibiting 8.4% growth over the corresponding period of previous fiscal. The incremental growth has been 4 MMTPA, which is the highest among the all Major Ports of the Country. If the trend continues, under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Union Minister of MoPSW, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Ji, PPA will be able to emerge as the top cargo handling port of the country. The Port’s performance has been recognized as it has received three prestigious awards in the Sagar Shrestha Sammaan 2023 by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. These include the No.1 Major Port Award for Overall Annual Performance, Port with Highest Incremental Improvement for Cargo Handled and award for Best Performance for Ship Berth Day Output in FY 2022-23.

The Port has added 55 MMTPA of Capacity including 30 MMTPA of berth mechanisation in the recent 5 years. Presently the Port capacity stands at 279 MMTPA, the highest among Major ports. The Port has recently signed Concession Agreement with M/s Jindal Paradip Port Limited for development of 25 MMTPA Western Dock Project, construction for which will commence shortly. This will take the Port capacity beyond 300 MMTPA upon its completion. I would like to emphasize that this Western Dock project will enable the port to handle fully laden Cape size Vessels requiring draft upto 18 mtrs. This will bring economy of scale to the profitability of the customers.

As part of Maritime India Vision 2030, Paradip Port will evolve as a world class mega port with over 400 MMTPA capacity by 2030 through its capacity augmentation projects. All the berths of the port will be mechanised which will bring about enhanced productivity, eco-friendly cargo handling and reduced logistics cost for the customers. For this, over 80 MMTPA capacity addition projects are in pipeline to be completed by FY 2030. Looking beyond it, the Port envisions to take its capacity to over 500 MMTPA by the AmritKaal 2047.

Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Paradip Port has been identified as one of the Major Ports to be developed as a hydrogen hub. For this, development of Port facilities are planned by Paradip Port for which preparation of Feasibility Report & Model Studies are underway to finalize the layout of the dock including backup areas keeping safety aspects in mind. As a part of its plans to drive the adoption of hydrogen and its derivatives such as ammonia & methanol as propulsion fuel for ships, Port plans to procure hybrid tugs from Cochin Shipyard. Paradip Port is jointly conducting a project study for converting the Port into a Green Port at National Centre of Excellence for Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) under The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Shri Haranadh lauded the medical team comprising of nine paramedics of PPA Hospital which was deployed to tragic train mishap site at Bahanaga Railway Station, Balasore for 10 days with Five ambulances and medical supplies for relief and rescue operation.

For the Fishermen community, Government of India under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) has approved Up-gradation & Modernization of Fishing Harbour at Paradip at an Estimated Cost of Rs 108.91crores. The projects are being implemented through Paradip Port and are under construction. On completion, this will transform Paradip fishing harbour as a world class fishing harbour with new and improved facilities for serving the fishing boat operators, fish processors, exporters and other stakeholders.

He urged upon the denizens of Paradip, with their unwavering support and the collective will of our nation, PPA will continue to script remarkable success stories which exemplifies growth, sustainability, and a brighter tomorrow for generations to come.

Thereafter, Shri Haranadh awarded prizes to winners of various competitions held among local school children & Officers and employees of various departments, who have excelled in their respective work area. Later on he awarded winner and Runners up Trophies to the marching contingents.

Embracing the spirit of Meri Maati Mera Desh and Vasudha Vandhan campaigns, Shri Haranadh embarked on a green journey with plantation of 75 saplings at STP-3 of Bhima Bhoi Colony. Panch Pran pledge was also administered. Before this, a Toilet and modified GYM were inaugurated in the Gopabandhu Stadium Complex by Chairman, PPA. For the sake of the employees, Vehicle Parking shed at Gate No.-4 and new turf of Badminton court at Officers’ Club were also inaugurated coinciding with Independence Day celebrations. Jagannath Lalita Kala Sansad, the Cultural Wing of PPA organized a Poets’ Meet on Patriotic theme at Officers’ Club. An exhibition Football match was held in the afternoon between GKS and Morning Club of Paradip. In the evening, inter-school dance competitions on patriotic theme were held among school children at Biju Convention Centre. The winners were awarded by Chairman and Dy. Chairman, PPA.

Shri Sonowal holds meeting with Ambassadors and Mission Officials of more than 40 countries, Highlighting India's Maritime Potential.

Global Maritime India Summit 2023 to be held in October, 2023 in New Delhi.

A gathering of international dignitaries marked the Ambassador's Meet at Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal's residence on August 11, 2023. The meeting, with participation from more than 40 countries, including 21 Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Deputy High Commissioners, Trade Commissioners, and 23 other diplomats, underscored the global interest in the upcoming Global Maritime India Summit 2023 (GMIS 2023) to be held in October 2023 in New Delhi.

The Ambassador's Meet witnessed participation from diverse regions, including Africa, ASEAN, and the CIS. Among the prominent attendees were Ambassadors, Deputy High Commissioners, Charge d'affaires, and other diplomats from countries such as USA, Argentina, Germany, Canada, Australia, Finland, Norway, Netherland, Russia, Malaysia, Qatar, Maldives, Georgia, and Commonwealth of Independent Countries (CIS) countries each representing their nation's commitment to maritime collaboration.

In addition, Shri. Shripad Naik, the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs; Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs; and Shri. Shri V. Muraleedharan, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs also attended the event.

Shri Sonowal, in his address, emphasised India's vast potential in the maritime sector and stated that "In this era of globalization, the maritime sector has emerged as a leading light of economic growth, facilitating the movement of goods, services and ideas across borders. India's ports and waterways have undergone transformational changes, becoming facilitators of trade on a global scale. Our Flagship Initiative “Sagarmala”, launched by our the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, seeks to integrate our ports with industrial and logistical corridors, further enhancing connectivity and operational efficiency."

The Minister stressed upon unlocking the investment opportunities in India's maritime sector, noting India’s policy of 100% FDI through automatic route for projects related to the construction and maintenance of ports and harbours. He informed that Public Private Privatization has played a pivotal role and currently PPP terminals are handling around 50% of cargo at major ports.

On the occasion, Shri T K Ramachandran, Secretary, Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, highlighted the major achievements of India’s Maritime Sector and emphasized upon its potential along with the road map for further investments. He also provided an overview of GMIS 2023, scheduled from 17th to 19th October 2023, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi and reinforced India's commitment to sustainable maritime solutions.

The event follows the launch of the Curtain Raiser of the 3rd Global Maritime India Summit in Mumbai last month which garnered huge attention from the maritime community from across the globe.

About Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023:

GMIS 2023 is a premier maritime sector focussed event to bring together pivotal figures from the industry to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and stimulate investment within India's maritime sector. Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions, this third instalment aims to unveil broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors. Ready to make its presence felt on the global stage and spotlight India's maritime industry, the Maritime India Summit has now evolved to the 'Global' Maritime India Summit this year. The summit is slated for 17th to 19th October 2023, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, with FICCI as the exclusive industry partner.

For more details on the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, including a complete agenda and registration details, please visit the official website at www.maritimeindiasummit.com  

Improve Navigation Facilities.

A total of Rs. 6639 cr. has been allocated for capacity augmentation of existing and new waterways and development of jetties to improve the navigation facilities in the country, details of which is given at Annexure-1.

Rs. 123.40 crore was sanctioned for the development of 37 km stretch of South Buckingham canal between Shollinganallur to Kalpakam of NW-4 in 2014. Subsequently, IWAI carried out survey / studies and initiated action to develop the stretch between Sholinganallur to Kalpakam (Tamil Nadu) in the first phase. However, the work could not commence due to significant encroachment on the waterway.

Annexure -1

The details of projects and funds sanctioned on National Waterway (NW) during last 5 years

This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.

Corporate Social Responsibility Activities.

The 'SagarSamajikSahyog' - Revised Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Guidelines 2023 were launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways on 27.06.2023 for Major Port Authorities. Under these guidelines, the Major Ports have been empowered to sanction and approve CSR projects.

According to the guidelines, Major Ports are required to create a CSR budget for each year as a percentage of their net profit in the following manner:

These guidelines aim to make a lasting impact by addressing the pressing needs of our society, focusing on education, healthcare, skill development, environmental sustainability and community empowerment.

All Major Port Authorities have taken various measures to boost community welfare initiatives, especially for the local community in the vicinity of the ports. The activities included under the CSR projects comprise of health and family welfare, drinking water and sanitation, education and skill development, disaster management, preservation and restoration of environment and ecology and sustainable development goals etc.

The expenditure incurred for CSR activities by Major Ports in Financial Year 2022-23 are as under: -

This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.

Improve Coastal Infrastructure.

Coastal development projects across the country have been identified by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. These include projects from various categories such as modernisation of existing ports and terminals, new ports/ terminals, RoRo/ RoPax& tourism jetties, enhancement of port connectivity, inland waterways, lighthouse tourism, industrialization around ports, skill development, technology centres etc. and are being implemented by the Central Line Ministries/ Departments, State Governments/ Departments and Major ports etc. Further, in the Union Budget 2023-24, Government of India has made an announcement promoting coastal shipping as the energy efficient and lower cost mode of transport, through PPP mode with viability gap funding. This will result in accelerated growth of coastal infrastructure leading to holistic development of coastal areas. Under Sagarmala Scheme, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has partially funded 171 projects worth Rs. 10,960 Cr across coastal states and UTs.

Out of 171 projects, 53 projects worth Rs. 3,310 Cr. have been completed and 118 projects worthRs. 7,660 Cr. are under various stages of implementation and development. The State/UT-wise details of the Sagarmala funded projects are attached as Annexure-I.

The Ministry carries out regular meetings with the stakeholders to understand the concerns and specific issues hindering the progress of implementation of projects and make requisite efforts to iron out the difficulties to ensure timely execution of projects. Further, the Ministry, from time to time, holds Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) meetings as a framework of consultative planning where challenges and opportunities in marine sector are discussed for creating synergy and to ensure the optimum management and utilization of the available coastline by way of participation of all stakeholders.

Annexure-I

State wise details of Sagarmala Funded Projects

This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.

PPA becomes fastest Major Port to handle 50 MMT Cargo in current fiscal.

Paradip Port achieved a major milestone by clocking record cargo throughput of 50.16 MMT Cargo on 8th August, 2023, by exhibiting 6.5% growth over the corresponding period of previous fiscal. This feat has been achieved by the Port in 129 days in the current fiscal compared to 140 days during the previous year. PPA has also handled record 942 nos. of Vessels in comparison to 812 nos. handled in the corresponding period of previous fiscal.

For the above feat, Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA expressed his gratitude to Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Ji, Hon’ble Minister of MoPSW under whose dynamic leadership and guidance, PPA could turn a new chapter. He said, “Together, with the unwavering support of our dedicated workforce and the collective will of our nation, we shall continue to script remarkable success stories for Paradip Port—a story that exemplifies growth, sustainability, and a brighter tomorrow for generations to come.”

Shri Haranadh also congratulated all Officers/Employees, the user Industries, Stevedores, Steamer Agents, Trade Unions, PPP Operators to have their continued faith in the ability of the Port to serve them.  

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launches Port Health Organisation (PHO) under Sagar Setu to enable faster & simpler ecosystem to promote Ease of Doing Business.

PHO to conduct disease surveillance, health inspection, and quarantine measures to safeguard citizens and port workers

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched Port Health Organisation (PHO) module under Sagar Setu - National Logistics Portal (Marine) - in an attempt to enable faster and simpler ecosystem to promote Ease of Doing Business (EODB). PHO will conduct disease surveillance, health inspection and quarantine measures to safeguard citizens and port workers. This digital initiative was launched in presence of Shri T K Ramachandra, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways along with other senior officials of the ministry.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “As per the vision of our dynamic Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we, at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, have embarked upon a journey to transform and modernise our ports for them to be future ready. The launch of the PHO module is yet another step towards digitalisation and modernisation of our systems which will further the ease of doing business in the country.”

This Port Health Organization module has been envisaged as a part of ‘Ease of Doing busine’ by covering features like request for PHO clearance certificates, approval by PHO, online certification generation, tracking of request status etc. The PHO module will help the Shipping Agents, PHO’s, Port Authorities, Customs etc allowing easier access to functionalities of PHO clearance through online process. This will help in collaborating with different departments & agencies for accordance of approval etc. It will also ensure data mobility such that approvals and monitoring shall be paperless transparency. With a focus on public health, the Port Health Organization will conduct disease surveillance, health inspections, and quarantine measures to safeguard citizens and port workers. For Custodians like Ports Authorities and Customs, this module will help in providing Seamless Communication. PHO module of Sagar Setu (NLP-M) will boost maritime trade by enhancing ease of doing business and implementing digitisation process in Maritime process.

Sagar Setu (National Logistic Portal - Marine) would help the Shipping Agents to submit the request for Free Pratique and Health Declaration Certificates to PHOs at Port through online for the vessel arriving and leaving the Ports. Approvals and issuance of certificates by PHOs can also be made through the PHO module and notifications to Port Officials.

Earlier, the ‘SAGAR-SETU’, the mobile app version of NLP-Marine, was launched in April, 2023. This app gives real-time information on vessel-related details, gate information, container freight stations, and transactions. The app also facilitates digital payments for charges associated with import and export clearance processes, such as shipping line charges, transportation fees, and container freight station charges.

PHO to conduct disease surveillance, health inspection, and quarantine measures to safeguard citizens and port workers

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched Port Health Organisation (PHO) module under Sagar Setu - National Logistics Portal (Marine) - in an attempt to enable faster and simpler ecosystem to promote Ease of Doing Business (EODB). PHO will conduct disease surveillance, health inspection and quarantine measures to safeguard citizens and port workers. This digital initiative was launched in presence of Shri T K Ramachandra, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways along with other senior officials of the ministry.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “As per the vision of our dynamic Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we, at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, have embarked upon a journey to transform and modernise our ports for them to be future ready. The launch of the PHO module is yet another step towards digitalisation and modernisation of our systems which will further the ease of doing business in the country.”

This Port Health Organization module has been envisaged as a part of ‘Ease of Doing busine’ by covering features like request for PHO clearance certificates, approval by PHO, online certification generation, tracking of request status etc. The PHO module will help the Shipping Agents, PHO’s, Port Authorities, Customs etc allowing easier access to functionalities of PHO clearance through online process. This will help in collaborating with different departments & agencies for accordance of approval etc. It will also ensure data mobility such that approvals and monitoring shall be paperless transparency. With a focus on public health, the Port Health Organization will conduct disease surveillance, health inspections, and quarantine measures to safeguard citizens and port workers. For Custodians like Ports Authorities and Customs, this module will help in providing Seamless Communication. PHO module of Sagar Setu (NLP-M) will boost maritime trade by enhancing ease of doing business and implementing digitisation process in Maritime process.

Sagar Setu (National Logistic Portal - Marine) would help the Shipping Agents to submit the request for Free Pratique and Health Declaration Certificates to PHOs at Port through online for the vessel arriving and leaving the Ports. Approvals and issuance of certificates by PHOs can also be made through the PHO module and notifications to Port Officials.

Earlier, the ‘SAGAR-SETU’, the mobile app version of NLP-Marine, was launched in April, 2023. This app gives real-time information on vessel-related details, gate information, container freight stations, and transactions. The app also facilitates digital payments for charges associated with import and export clearance processes, such as shipping line charges, transportation fees, and container freight station charges.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the e-library.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Committed to the promotion of Official Language Hindi Shri Sarbananda Sonowal presided over the meeting of the Hindi Advisory Committee Awarded winner of the Official Language Shield Scheme and Original Book Scheme, the new edition of Ministry's in-house magazine 'Nautrani' released Said, "We are making efforts to increase the use of official language Hindi in the ministry and subordinate offices."

Union Minister for Ports , Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal presided over the Hindi Advisory Committee meeting held at Vigyan Bhawan , New Delhi today. During this, committee member Mr. Dhananjay Mahadik , Rajya Sabha member and Mr. Bhartuhari Mahtab , Lok Sabha member Mr. TK Ramachandran , IAS-Secretary , Ministry of Ports , Shipping and Waterways were also present. In the presence of all of them, Shri Sonowal released the new issue of Ministry's in-house magazine 'Nautrani' and unveiled the e-library on the website.

Addressing the event, Union Minister for Ports , Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said , “ Following the footsteps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are making efforts to increase the use of official language Hindi in the Ministry and subordinate offices. We will soon also organize meetings in East and West Coast to promote the official language.

During this program, the ports which have done commendable work for the national language , were honored by giving them shields and certificates under the Rajbhasha Shield Scheme and the original book scheme ;  In which the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lighthouses , Noida ; Jawaharlal Nehru Port ; Mumbai Port ; New Mangalore Port ; Shipping Corporation of India ; Cochin Shipyard Limited ; Awarded to Visakhapatnam Port and Mormugao Port.

In this programme, the non-official members of the committee kept their suggestions, which include use of Hindi language in simple words in the files of the ministry , promotion and dissemination of Hindi and quick appointment to vacant posts of Hindi.

PPA's stand on certain news published about alleged illegal sweet river sand transportation through ship.

We have come across a news published today in some of the leading dailies alleging illegal interstate transportation of sweet river sand from Odisha in ship through Paradip Port. In this regard, it may be noted that Paradip Port handles more than 135 MMT of different types EXIM and Coastal cargo annually. Paradip Port acts only as a gateway for transportation of EXIM & coastal traffic. Any Cargo movement inside the port is permitted on production of valid documents and following proper legal procedures including permission from Customs Authority.

It is also informed that river sand is being allowed to enter the Port for coastal shipping on the basis of production of valid Y-forms issued by the concerned Tahasildar. No sand cargo consignment can enter the port premises or be shipped if the shipper does not produce the valid Y form issued by the Tahasildar alongwith other necessary documents viz. permission of the concerned Collector. Therefore, the question of any illegal river sand cargo entering the Paradip Port premises does not arise. 

Paradip Port, being one of the leading major ports of the country is also the pride of Odisha and has an enviable track record of running its traffic operations in a transparent and spotless manner. Paradip Port strongly condemns the spread of such misinformation and it is reiterated that the allegations regarding illegal transportation of river sand by the Port are unfounded, baseless & devoid of facts. Paradip Port is committed to uphold the highest standards of probity in its operations in compliance with all statutes & laid down laws of the land.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launches Curtain Raiser of Global Maritime India Summit, 2023.

1. Investment opportunities worth more than ₹10 lakh crores in India’s maritime sector identified: Shri Sonowal
2. Explore possibilities to unlock potential in maritime sector & generate 15 lakh employment opportunities: Shri Sonowal
3. More than 50 countries to participate in the Global Maritime Summit, 2023.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched the curtain raiser of Global Maritime India Summit (GIMS), 2023 in Mumbai today. The event is aimed at unlocking potential for new investment opportunities along with collaborations for knowledge and technology to enhance cooperation in trade and promote Ease of Doing Business (EODB). The event was attended by the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism, Shri Shripad Naik among others.

Addressing the Curtain Raiser for the upcoming Global Maritime India Summit 2023, Shri Sonowal emphasised the vital role of the maritime sector in India's economic progression and the potential it holds for the Asia-Pacific region. “India can lead from the front,” said Sonowal. He added that India’s maritime sector is poised for growth, owing to proactive government policies around, ports, shipping and inland waterways.

The Minister said, “The huge potential of India’s marine sector can play a significant and pivotal role in elevating the economic cycle towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047 - a vision of our dynamic Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. As key driver of India’s maritime sector, our ministry has been organising the Global Maritime India Summit, to create value from the vast potential of India’s rich maritime sector. With an identified investment opportunities of more than ₹10 lakh crores in the maritime sector of the country, we are standing at a threshold of a major economic upswing which can generate employment opportunities for more than 15 lakhs youth of India. This summit has been designed to explore and examine riches of India’s Blue Economy. We hope that the best minds of maritime sector will hedge their goodwill, intent, intelligence and skills to produce a roadmap for a sustainable development of maritime sector as well as our country.”

Shri Sonowal further added, “We invite all the maritime stakeholders in India and globally to be part of these investment opportunities. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India is spearheading the advancement of regional trade within BIMSTEC region, taking a prominent role in the development of various regional projects. India is actively driving the establishment of 5,000 km of multi-country waterways, a significant initiative that will effectively facilitate trade and transportation across the region.”

The curtain raiser event is aimed at creating a global forum of thought leaders as well as industry captains from maritime sector to harness the immense potential of Blue Economy and draw a roadmap to unlock value through creation of investment opportunities in the maritime sector of India. The forum will provide a platform for start-ups, researchers, incubators and innovators to showcase their technology & expertise. The focus areas of GMIS, 2023 are Ports of the Future; Decarbonization; Coastal Shipping & Inland Waterways Transportation; Shipbuilding, repair & recycling; Finance, Insurance & arbitration; Innovation & technology; Maritime Safety & Security and Maritime Tourism.

The Union Minister said, "India stands firmly on its commitment to developing environmentally conscious shipping solutions. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India proudly occupies the second rank in recycling worldwide, with a clear objective to ascend to the top position within the forthcoming two decades. To propel this vision, we plan to inaugurate carbon-neutral alternatives and boost the use of battery-powered vehicles and apparatus in our major ports. With a vast coastline and over 200 ports, India holds a strategic position in global trade. The country has made impressive strides under transformative initiatives like Sagarmala and the Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which have modernised port infrastructure, enhanced connectivity, and facilitated port-led industrialisation."

Speaking on occasion, Shri Shripad Naik, said, "The Global Maritime India Summit 2023 represents a crucial milestone in our efforts to position India as a global maritime hub. Through collaborative discussions and strategic partnerships, we aim to propel our maritime sector towards sustainable growth, bolstered by innovation and cutting-edge technology."

Shri Rajiv Jalota, Chairman, Indian Ports Association & Mumbai Port Authority; Shri Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Shri Bhushan Kumar, Joint Secretary (SM), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Shri Rajesh Tandon, 

CEO, Foreign Owners Representative, Ship Managers Association; Shri Anil Devli, CEO, Indian National Shipowners Association; Shri Dhruv Kotak, Chairman, Ports & Shipping, FICCI Committee on Transport Infrastructure & MD, JM Taxi Group along with Shri Shailesh Pathak, Secretary General, FICCI also spoke on the occasion.

The curtain raiser concluded with the unveiling of the official GMIS 2023 brochure and the launch of the event's website and mobile app to provide a comprehensive overview of the summit's agenda and thematic sessions and will serve as essential resources for participants.

About Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023:

GMIS 2023 is a premier maritime sector focussed event to bring together pivotal figures from the industry to explore opportunities, understand challenges, and stimulate investment within India's maritime sector. Building upon the legacy of its preceding editions, this third instalment aims to unveil broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders and investors. Ready to make its presence felt on the global stage, and spotlight India's maritime industry, the Maritime India Summit has now evolved to the 'Global' Maritime India Summit this year. The summit is slated for 17th to 19th October 2023, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, with FICCI as the exclusive industry partner.

For more details on the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, including a complete agenda and registration details, please visit the official website at www.maritimeindiasummit.com

PPA signs MoU with NBCC for up-gradation of Residential and non-residential Buildings, Beautification and Landscaping works.

Paradip Port Authority, in its effort to provide State-of-the-art living facility to the employees, workers and residents of the locality, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NBCC (India) Ltd., a Navratna CPSE, for examination of structural stability of the buildings, improvement of residential quarters including beautification and landscaping works.

The MoU was signed by Shri H.S.Rout, Chief Engineer on behalf of PPA and Shri R.N.Sinha, General Manager(Engg.) from NBCC in the presence of PPA Chairman  Shri P.L.Haranadh and Dy. Chairman, PPA Shri  Nilabhra Dasgupta. Among others, Capt. A.C Sahoo, Dy. Conservator, Shri D.N. Sondhi, FA & CAO, PPA and Sr. officials from both PPA and NBCC were present during the occasion.

Coastal shipping of Thermal Coal from East to West, PPA is the best PPA opens up new Thermal Coal Coastal Shipping Gateway for the Western Gencos.

As a major hub for Coastal Shipping, Paradip Port stands at No.1 position among Indian Ports, which handles the highest cargo by coastal shipping among all Ports of the country. Presently, Paradip Port handles coastal shipping of thermal coal from Mahanadi Coalfields, Talcher to Gencos of Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. During FY 2022-23, it handled 42.2MMT coastal thermal coal, registering phenomenal growth of 50% over 28 MMT recorded in previous fiscal.  Traditionally, the focus has been to ensure uninterrupted supply of thermal coal to the southern Gencos. In a path breaking marketing initiative under the visionary leadership of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Ji, Hon'ble Union Minister of MoPSW, PPA has commenced the movement of thermal coal from MCL to Gencos, located on West Coast to meet the burgeoning power demand of the Western states.

          Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA today flagged off MV Mana carrying 52,000 Metric Tonnes coals of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd. from the EQ2 berth of PEQCTPL Terminal. The destination Port is PNP Port, Dharamtar in Maharashtra. Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta, Dy. Chairman, PPA, Shri G. Edison, TM, Capt. A.C. Sahu, Dy. Conservator, PPA, Shri Manish Gupta, Unit Head, PEQCTPL, Shri A.C. Sutar from ACE Commercial were also present during the flagging off ceremony. In the first phase, over a period of next four months, 3.5 lakh Metric Tonnes of thermal coal will be shipped on account of M/s Gandhar Coals & Mining Pvt.Ltd., Logistics & Port Management Service (PMS) by Stevedores - Ace Commercial Co. Pvt. Ltd.

         Commenting on the cargo augmentation initiative, Shri Haranadh said, “Considering the logistic services available at Paradip Port, the Port is being increasingly preferred by various Gencos, as a part of coastal shipping. It is very welcoming step that, Gencos of western coast are also planning to use the services of PPA for transportation of thermal coal to these plants. The current movement to Maha Genco is only a beginning and many other Gencos of Gujrat, Rajasthan, NTPC are evincing keen interest in coastal shipping of thermal coal via Paradip Port. It is a proud moment of the Port”.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal reviews progress of World’s biggest maritime museum complex -NMHC, Lothal.

National Maritime Heritage Complex will act as a centre for learning and understanding India’s diverse maritime history.

With an estimated cost of Rs. 4500 Crore NMHC complex will be spread over 400 acres of land.

NMHC complex will have World’s Tallest Lighthouse Museum, Asia’s Biggest Under Water Marine Museum and India’s Grandest Naval Museum.

Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, NMHC is being developed as the world’s biggest Maritime Museum complex: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal reviewed the project process of National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This meeting was held along with Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief Minister, Gujarat, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik,  Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Tourism, Shri Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

An MoU was signed during the meeting with Ministry of Defence (Indian Navy & Coast Guard) towards development of a Naval gallery: “The Journey of Indian Navy & Coast Guard” inside NMHC complex.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launches New CSR guidelines ‘Sagar Samajik Sahayog’.

New CSR guidelines is an attempt to empower ports to address issues of local communities in a more cooperative & swift manner: Shri Sonowal

Ports with annual turnover of less than ₹100 crores to spend 3-5%, less than ₹500 crores to spend 2-3% and more than ₹500 crores to spend 0.5-2% of their net annual profit.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘Sagar Samajik Sahayyog’ - the new guidelines of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. The new guidelines empower ports to undertake CSR activities directly. The event was also attended by Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Shantanu Thakur & Union Minister of State of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shripad Yesso Naik held here today.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Shri Sonowal said, “We remain firmly committed to the idea of minimum government, maximum governance. The renewed guidelines for CSR activities allows our ports to initiate, undertake and expedite projects for community welfare through a framework where local communities can also become partners of development & change. CSR has the ability to become a major agent of change in a location or on an activity to bring positive change in the lives of the people. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, we are striving towards empowering our people, our institutions in a way that it caters to the needs of the community as well as make community a partner in the process of change & progress India to become Atmanirbhar”, the Minister added.

The new CSR guidelines unveiled today will impact projects and programmes relating to activities specified in Section 70 of the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021. For the purpose of planning and implementing CSR projects, a Corporate Social Responsibility Committee shall be constituted in each major port. The Committee shall be headed by the Dy. Chairperson of the Major Port and shall have 2 other Members. Each major port shall prepare a Corporate Social Responsibility Plan for every financial year, and integrate its CSR in Business Plan with the social and environmental concerns related to the business of the entity.

CSR Budget will be mandatorily created through a Board Resolution as a percentage of net profit. A port with an annual net profit of ₹100 crores or less can fix between 3% - 5% for CSR expenses. Similarly, ports with a net profit between ₹100 crores to ₹500 crores annually, can fix its CSR expenses between 2% and 3% of its net profit, subject to a minimum of ₹3 crores. For ports, whose annual net profit is above ₹500 crores per year, the CSR expenses can be between 0.5% and 2% of its net profit. 20% of CSR expenses must be earmarked to Sainik Kalyan Board at district level, National Maritime Heritage Complex and National Youth Development Fund. 78% of funds should be released for the social & environmental welfare of the community in areas like drinking water, education, vocational training, skill development, electricity through non-conventional & renewable sources, health & family welfare, promotion of livelihood for economically weaker section of society, community centres, hostels etc. A sum of 2% total CSR expense has been earmarked for monitoring of the projects under the CSR programmes by the Ports.

Observation of International Day of Yoga - 2023 at PPA.

Paradip Port Authority observed the 9th International Day of Yoga with the theme “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' effectively encapsulating our collective aspiration for 'One Earth, One Family, and One Future.' Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPA inaugurated the event at Biju Convention Centre in presence of  Dy.Chairman Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta.

Shri Tapas Ranjan Pati, experienced faculty of the Art of Living conducted the Yoga session. Huge number of participants have also virtually joined live streaming of IDY 2023 National celebration led by Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. Of late, the practice of Yoga has emerged as one of the most powerful way to ensure our holistic well being. The CISF Unit of PPA, Volunteers of Paradip Art of Living, local school students along with PPA employees also joined the Yoga demonstration. Banners, hoardings and Electronic Display Boards highlighted the significance of the observation of International Day of Yoga to build awareness among the local populace.

As Yoga embodies unit of mind and body, thought and action, it has been incorporated in the education curriculum of the students from Port Trust UP School, High School. Esteemed Chairman, PPA happily mentioned to introduce yoga sessions in schools regular basis very soon.

World Blood Donor Day 2023 organised at PPA.

PPA Hospital in association with leading Social organization from the locality - Aahwan Combines organized World Blood Donor Day 2023 as part of "Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav”. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA inaugurated the programme in presence of Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta, Dy. Chairman, Dr.B.B.Das, CMO and other HoDs. With the theme “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often” around 81 employees and other volunteers donated blood and in turn the collected units were handed over to Odisha State Red Cross. The importance of donating blood is not only to save the lives of thousands who are struggling for their lives, but also save the lives of numerous people who are affected by various other blood dyscrasias. 

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launches ‘SAGAR SAMRIDDHI’ to bring transparency & efficiency.

Online Dredging Monitoring System is aimed at accelerating ‘Waste to Wealth’ campaign of MoPSW ‘Following on PM Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of Zero Defect & Zero Effect, the system is designed to minimise human error’: Shri Sonowal

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘SAGAR SAMRIDDHI’ - the online dredging monitoring system - in order to accelerate ‘Waste to Wealth’ initiative of the Ministry here today. Secretary of MoPSW Sudhansh Pant along with other senior officials of the Ministry, Major Ports and Organisations also attended this programme.

World Environment Day observed at PPA.

With the theme #Beat Plastic Pollution World Environment Day 2023 was observed at Paradip Port. Paradip Saksharata Samiti, the social arm of Paradip Port Authority organized plantation drive at Madhuban Colony under the flagship banner of 'Mission- LiFE'. Chairman of PPA Shri P.L. Haranadh along with Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta, Dasgupta and volunteers of PSS planted saplings to increase green cover in the Port Township. Later Shri Haranadh and Shri Dasgupta participated in another plantation programme conducted in the Sewerage Treatment Plant II of the Port. Shri H.S. Rout, Chief Engineer, PPA along with his team conducted the programme. Chairman, PPA, Shri Haranadh outlined the importance of planting trees as these are the life line for survival on Earth.

In the morning, an awareness cycle rally was flagged off by Shri D N Sondhi, FA & CAO and Capt. A.C. Sahoo, Dy. Conservator, PPA from Jagannath Temple, which covering the township culminated at Gopabandhu Stadium. It is a reminder that people's actions on plastic pollution matter. It is time to quicken up this action and transition to a circular economy.

Capt. A.C. Sahoo, Dy. Conservator, PPA later administered World Environment Day pledge to the officers and employees of PPA at Administrative Building. Marine Department led by Capt. Sahoo also cleaned three Ponds at PPA Golf Course. 

9 YEARS OF MODI GOVERNMENT: CHAIRMAN, PPA HIGHLIGHTS KEY MILESTONES ACHIEVED.

Commemorating the occasion of Modi Govt’s. 9 years in office, Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Authority today highlighted the growth saga of Indian Major Ports and especially that of Paradip Port while interacting today with the local media. On March 2015, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the Sagarmala Programme with a view to achieve the broad objective of promoting port led economic development under four pillars namely Port Modernisation, Port Connectivity, Port Led Industrialisation and Coastal Community Development.

Under “Sagarmala” Programme, Paradip Port has implemented several capacity expansion projects on BOT basis with a total investment of Rs. 3260 crores during the last 9 years viz. (1) Clean Cargo & Container Berth of 5 MMTPA capacity at a cost of Rs.430 crores, (2) Development of new Iron Ore Terminal of 10 MMTPA at Rs.740 crores, (3) Mechanization of 3 existing berths (EQ) of 30 MMTPA at Rs. 1440 crores to handle coal exports, (4) Development of a New Coal Import Berth of 10 MMTPA at Rs.650 crores.

The 82 km long Haridaspur-Paradip Railway line connecting Paradip Port to the rich Iron Ore mining hinterland in the Keonjhar areas has been completed at a cost of Rs. 3200 crores. This Rail line has reduced the distance from Paradip to Kalinganagar cluster of Steel Plants and Iron Ore mines.

By leveraging port-led industrialization, Paradip Port has successfully attracted investments worth Rs 8,754 crore for the development of 769 acres of port land. This strategic initiative will facilitate the establishment of industrial facilities with a combined capacity of 50.6 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) and generate employment opportunities for over 3,700 individuals.

Maritime India Vision 2023, unveiled by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji has laid down clear cut initiatives for making Major Ports as best in class infrastructure centres. Paradip Port has planned 99 initiatives under the MIV 2030, at an investment of Rs.16,743 crores, out of which around 42 initiatives are completed.

The Major Port Authority Act 2021 has provided requisite dynamism and flexibility to improve competitiveness and efficiency under the current competitive environment.

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan launched by Hon’ble PM envisages timely completion of various Port connectivity and capacity augmentation projects, so that an ecosystem of better logistics is provided for EXIM traffic.

The Port capacity has been augmented by 55 Million Metric Tonnes per annum to a present capacity of 289.5 MMTPA. The overall Output per Ship Berthday (OSBD) has improved from 18179 Metric Tonnes to 31050 Metric Tonnes. The Turn-Round-Time (TRT) has improved from 111 hours to 47.9 hours. Similarly, there has been reduction in Handling Cost from Rs. 62.39 per Tonne to Rs. 57.60 per Tonne resulting in improvement of Operating Ratio from 60.1% to 38%.

Paradip Port is emerging as Mega Major Port on east coast of India to handle the EXIM Traffic of its hinterland with high standards of productivity and low logistic costs. 

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal announces ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’ at the end of MoPSW’s Chintan Shibir.

MoPSW to provide 30% financial support for promotion of Green Shipping.Under the Green Tug Transition Programme Jawaharlal Nehru Port, VO Chidambaranar Port, Paradip Port and Deendayal Port, Kandlawill procure two tugs each Green hydrogen hubs to be developed at Deendayal Port, Kandla and VO Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin Single window portal to be designed to facilitate river and sea cruises and their bookingsJawaharlal Nehru Port, Tuticorin to become Smart Ports by 2024 Under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modiji, we affirm our commitment to make a solid attempt at green shipping & digitising operations for maximum efficiency with an aim to become world leader in maritime sector: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal made FIVE major announcements focusing green shipping and digitisation of the ports at the end of the ministry’s second Chintan Shibir held in Munnar, Kerala today. The Minister was joined by Shripad Naik, MoS, MoPSW & Tourism, Shri Shantanu Thakur, MoS, MoPSW, Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, MoPSW and others including Chairpersons of all major ports, heads of the other organizations/PSU’s of the Ministry and senior officials. The minister underlined how these initiatives poised to make India a global leader in the maritime sector.

The ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’ includes 5 major announcements which are - MoPSW to provide 30% financial support for the promotion of Green Shipping; Under the Green Tug Transition Programme Jawaharlal Nehru Port, VO Chidambaranar Port, Paradip Port and Deendayal Port, Kandla will procure two tugs each; Deendayal Port and VO Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin to be developed as Green Hydrogen Hub; Single Window Portal to facilitate and monitor river and sea cruises; Jawaharlal Nehru Port and VO Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin to become smart port by next year.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways starts its Chintan Shivir in Munnar,Kerala to determine the targets and deliberate upon the ideas of Making India Atmanirbhar in Maritime.

Discussions to deliberate ideas and innovations to guide the maritime sector towards Atmanirbhar Maritme Sector.

Celebrate the achievements and discuss the targets for the upcoming year.

“Under the dynamic leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, India has achieved a new reputation globally and we should be further enhancing it”: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW )embarkedupon  its much-anticipated 2 day Chintan Shivir at Munnar in Kerala. The Shivir was Chaired and inaugurated by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH in the august presence of  the Shri Shripad Naik, MoS, MoPSW and Tourism, Shri Shantanu Thakur, MoS, MoPSW, Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, MoPSW and others including Chairpersons of all major ports, heads of the other organizations/PSU’s of the Ministry and senior officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sonowal lauded the commitment and hard work exhibited by MoPSW and each of the organizations in positioning India as a global leader in the maritime sector. Recognizing the significance of enhancing connectivity and fostering new business opportunities, he emphasized the Ministry’s goal to educate and create awareness among the common people too by highlighting the impact of the Maritime sector in simple language and  how it impatcs the lives of the common people.

“Under the dynamic leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has achieved a new reputation globally and the Ministry in coordination with all the major organizations are working to further boost and implement the vision of our PM towards making India Atmanirbhar.” the Minister added.

Shri Shripad Y Naik, MoS, MoPSW mentioned the excellent performance achieved during the FY-2022-23 in all aspects of port operations. He said, "The MIV 2030 launched under the leadership of PM Modi has led the blueprint of the actions that would lead us towards making India one of the leading blue economies of the world and we should try to achieve the determined targets".

On this occasion Shri Shantanu Thakur, MoS, MoPSW stated," India is one of the leading economies of the world and the considerable amount of work has been done towards infrastructure documentation in the Ports enhancing ease of doing business, increasing the share of renewable energy in the sectors and promoting ship building and ship repair". He also added that now we should focus on making India a hub for Maritime training and strengthening Maritime institutions.

During the first day of the Chintan Shivir, the achievements and targets set during the previous Chintan Shivir were discussed. An exclusive session with the HoDs of the major ports, chaired by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, focused on the innovative ideas of the ports. The other session focused on lighthouse tourism and how to become a global player in shipbuilding and enhance India’s tonnage.  Apart from this, the participants from various organisations shared valuable insights, paving its way for informed decision-making and effective implementation strategies.

The day two of the Chintan Shivir will focus on cargo handling by Major Ports, improving and optimizing port call procedures, digitalization and standardization, Inland waterways and coastal shipping enhancing cargo and good governance.

“Sagar Shreshtha Samman” Awards: PPA bags a hat-trick.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of MoPSW has recently conferred the “Sagar Shreshtha Samman” awards to Major Ports for their all time best performance on select operational and financial parameters for the year 2022-23 during the launch of Harit Sagar Green Port guidelines 2023 in a ceremony held in New Delhi, last Wednesday. Paradip Port Authority bagged three awards in the categories like No.1 Major Port for overall annual performance, for achieving the highest incremental improvement for cargo handled and for achieving the best performance for Ship Berth Day Output during the year 2022-23. Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPA received the awards from Hon’ble Union Minister, Shri Sonowal Ji in the presence of Shri Shripad Naik Ji, MoS, MoPSW and Shri Sudhansh Pant, IAS, Secretary, MoPSW. Shri Haranadh was accompanied by Sr. Officials of PPA .

            Commenting on the spectacular achievement, PPA Chairman Shri Haranadh said, to the local press in Paradip, “We are absolutely thrilled to win the coveted awards. The recognition of the important milestones achieved by Team PPA  & Team Paradip is indeed a real boost to our work. This is a tremendous accolade for our indomitable spirit and work ethics. Under the dynamic leadership and guidance of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Ji, Hon’ble Union Minister MoPSW, PPA looks forward to add new feathers to its cap in the current fiscal also”.  

            It may be noted that Paradip Port has recorded the highest ever growth of 19.02 MMT Traffic i.e 16.56 % over the last fiscals’ traffic among all the Ports in the country. Paradip Port has contributed 19.2 million metric tonnes i.e. 25.6% out of the total growth in cargo handling achieved by all the major ports during the financial year 2022-23. During the last financial year, the Port has achieved highest ever coastal shipping traffic of 58.42 million metric tonnes, with a growth of 16.22 million metric tonnes i.e. 38% over the previous year.  The thermal coal coastal shipping has grown by 14 million metric tonnes i.e. 50% over the previous year cargo handling. Thus, the Paradip Port is emerging as a hub for coastal shipping in the country. The berth productivity of 31050 MT achieved by Paradip Port is the highest among all the ports of the country. 

MoPSW ranked 2nd amongst the Ministries / Departments in the Survey Report on Data Governance Quality Index.

MoPSW is placed second among the 66 ministries with score of 4.8/5

This survey conducted by DMEO, NITI Ayog to assess different Ministries /Departments' performance on the implementation of Central Sector Schemes (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has achieved a remarkable feat, securing the second position among 66 ministries in the highly influential Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI) assessment for 2022-2023 Q3. The Ministry has achieved an impressive score of 4.7 out of 5, further highlighting the ministry's commitment to excellence in data governance.

Conducted by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog, the DGQI survey aims to measure the maturity level of administrative data systems and their use in decision-making of various Ministries and Departments on the implementation of Central Sector Schemes (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS). It also identifies reforms to reach the frontier of seamless data exchange and its synergistic use within the ministry, while defining clear pathways to achieve these goals. The DGQI assessment encompasses six pivotal themes, including Data Generation, Data Quality, Use of Technology, Data Analysis, Use and Dissemination, Data Security and HR Capacity, and Case Studies.

MoPSW's success in the DGQI assessment is assisted by the concerted efforts of the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways, and Coasts at IIT Madras, which was tasked with improving MoPSW's Management Information System (MIS) in compliance with DGQI standards. Notably, the NTCPWC is developed under Sagarmala by MoPSW as a technology arm of the MoPSW. The DGQI has assessed the MIS portals for five schemes of MoPSW - Sagarmala, Research and Development, Shipping, ALHW, IWAI & IWT - to enhance data flow, increase data quality and by incorporating emerging technologies such as AI/ ML.

The impact of data-driven decision-making has been significant for MoPSW, as it has enabled the Ministry to identify reforms and achieve its desired goals and objectives to improve the implementation framework of government policies, schemes, and programs.

Speaking on the Ministry's achievement, Union Minister MoPSW and AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal stated, "The effort of DMEO, Niti Aayog, to bring out such a report card of the Ministries / Departments is highly appreciable. It will immensely help improve the implementation framework of government policies, schemes, and programs to achieve the desired goals."

Data-driven approach enables policymakers to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement accurately. With reliable data, the Ministries can make informed decisions that lead to better outcomes for citizens. Moreover, data-driven decision-making is cost-effective and enhances transparency, making it easier to track the progress of schemes and policies. The Ministry's commitment to data-driven decision-making is a testament to its dedication to serving the people of India effectively. By leveraging data and technology, MoPSW has set a high standard for other Ministries and Departments to emulate.

NEW PPA DEPUTY CHAIRMAN SHRI NILABHRA DASGUPTA ASSUMES CHARGE.

Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta assumed the charge of Deputy Chairman, PPA on dt.11/05/2023. He is an Indian Revenue Service Officer of 2008 batch. He has a Masters in Linguistics from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi and was pursuing a Direct PhD when he cracked the prestigious Civil Services examination in his very first attempt. He also has an LLB degree from Gujarat University and has completed his LLM. After assuming the office as Dy. Chairman, PPA, he said that his priority will be taking PPA to greater heights in coming years and also to create and maintain a congenial atmosphere in the local Port Community, so that it will fuel further growth and development of the Port.   During his more than 13 years of service, he has handled multiple large and sensitive positions in tax-policy administration and management. He possesses work experience in a diverse portfolio of assignments covering the areas of Administration, Enforcement, Vigilance, Infrastructure, Corporate and International Taxation. He has a deep experience of working in a highly unionized set-up with an ability to work in close coordination with the Unions while ensuring that all the key result areas and organizational objectives are achieved. He has significant experience in project implementation in the infrastructure space and was also awarded certificate of merit for his services in preparing a Litigation Management Software to process litigation data and monitor litigation deadlines. His long tenure in the field of International Taxation, Transfer Pricing and Corporate Assessment has equipped him to work in an ITeS enabled environment and strict time-barring schedules.

             In his last assignment as the Additional Director (Investigation), IT Department, Ahmedabad, he has planned and supervised multiple sensitive and large scale enforcement actions which involve effective coordination with numerous other agencies and processing of huge amounts of data which is both secret and time sensitive and requires a skill-set to deal with immediate crises situations requiring quick planning, extremely low turn-around times and very high-risk outcomes in a high pressure environment. During his tenure in the Investigation Wing he was successful in effecting one of the largest cumulative cash seizures ever in the Gujarat region. He has also handled numerous additional responsibilities such as Nodal officer(Surveillance), Nodal officer (Election Expenditure Monitoring, Gujarat state),Nodal officer (Subsidiary Multi Agency Centre), Nodal officer (REIC & CEIB), Nodal officer (NDPSA-SAFEMA), which has enabled him to handle multiple sensitive portfolios across a wide spectrum of varied responsibilities simultaneously.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal receives the First Indian Cargo Ship at the Sittwe Port.

50% reduction in cost & time of transportation of goods between Kolkata and Agartala and Aizwal with the development of Sittwe Port

This will promote promote trade connectivity and people to people ties between India and Myanmar and the wider region and will help boost economic development of NE states under ‘Act East Policy’ of the Government : Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Transport & Communications Admiral Tin Aung San, of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar jointly inaugurated the Sittwe Port in Rakhine State, Myanmar today. During this event they received the first Indian Cargo ship which was flagged off from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata.

            The operationalisation of Sittwe Port would enhance bilateral and regional trade as well as contribute to the local economy of Rakhine State of Myanmar. The greater connectivity provided by the Port will lead to employment opportunities and enhanced growth prospects in the region.

In his remarks at the inauguration ceremony, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways highlighted the close historical, cultural and economic ties between India and Myanmar, particularly the Rakhine State of Myanmar. He reiterated India’s longstanding commitment towards the development and prosperity of people of Myanmar through developmental initiatives such as the Sittwe Port.

This project was conceptualized to provide an alternative connectivity of Mizoram with Haldia / Kolkata / any Indian ports through Kaladan River in Myanmar. The project envisages highway / road transport from Mizoram to Paletwa (Myanmar), thereafter from Paletwa to Sittwe (Myanmar) by Inland Water Transport (IWT) and from Sittwe to any port in India by maritime shipping. The project comprises of following segments (Index map is also enclosed):

Sittwe Port has been developed as a part of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) funded under grant in aid assistance from Government of India. Once fully operationalized the waterway and road components of KMTTP will link the East coast of India to the North-eastern states through the Sittwe port.

Shri Shantanu Thakur flags off MV-ITT LION (V-273) from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata as the inaugural shipment to operationalise the Sittwe Port in Rakhine State of Myanmar.

At a ceremony held today Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Shantanu Thakur flagged off MV-ITT LION (V-273) from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata as the inaugural shipment to operationalise the Sittwe Port in Rakhine State of Myanmar

The Port has been built under a grant assistance from the Government of India as part of Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP). The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), as a project Development Consultant for the implementation of Port and IWT components of the work, has successfully completed the work.

MV-ITT LION (V-273) carrying 20,000 bags containing 1,000 metric tonnes of cement will reach Sittwe Port on May 9, 2023.

Sittwe Port has been developed under a framework agreement between India and Myanmar for the construction and operation of a Multimodal Transit Transport Facility on Kaladan river connecting the Sittwe port in Myanmar with the state of Mizoram in India. The port connects to Paletwa in Myanmar through an inland waterway and from Paletwa to Zorinpui in Mizoram through a road component. Once fully operationalised, KMTTP will provide alternate connectivity from Eastern coast of India to the North-eastern states through the Sittwe port.

The Port will open up new opportunities for trade and transit from and to Myanmar, particularly the Rakhine State and further enhance trade and commerce between the two countries and the wider region.

PPA conducts a combined Multi Agency Coordination Mock Drill in collaboration with NDRF.

A combined Multi Agency Coordination Mock Drill in collaboration with NDRF 3^rd  Battalion, Mundali was organized at main fire station of Paradip Port today . The Mock Drill carries significance in view of upcoming the cyclonic system over Bay of Bengal as it will fine tune the preparedness of Team PPA to meet any kind of eventuality. The drill included various aspects like terrorist attack & hostage crisis management at signal station followed by ammonium nitrate fire fighting cum search and rope rescue and CBRNE emergency cum victim management. State Fire and Hospital services, mutual aid partners and stakeholders participated in this sensitization mock drill. Dr. P.N. Bahekar, Secretary, PPA, District Disaster Management authority as well as Harbour Master and Addl. Assistant Director,  Dock safety and representatives of State Fire service, IOCL pipeline, IOCL refinery, IFFCO, PPL, JSW, IOCL terminal, BPCL terminal, HPCL terminal, KICT, PICT remained present as Guests of Honor- cum - observers and also their response units participated in the on - site emergency Mock Drill in respect of which table top exercise was carried out last evening at the Administrative Building of Paradip Port in which NDRF Commandant  Shri Vardhaman Mishra addressed and briefed stakeholders about the importance of resource mapping. Secretary, PPA Dr. Bahekar expressed gratitude to NDRF for their spontaneous response and active participation. CISF Commandant Shri Akshat Patel  gave emphasis on gap analysis and appreciated the rope rescue and chemical emergency management mechanism. CISF Dy. Commandant, Fire Shri Bishnu swaroop offered vote of thanks. The program was coordinated by Company Commander, Fire wing Shri Bhaskar Das.

Indian Maritime sector leapfrogs to compete with the best in the world.

Average Container dwell time for India, as per World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (I-PI) Report — 2023, has achieved a level of 3 days only as compared to 4 days for countries like UAE and South Africa, 7 days for USA and 10 days for Germany.

The investment made by the country in the Ports and Shipping sector, since 2014, on improvement of infrastructure, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has started yielding results. Very low dwell time at Indian Sea Ports is an outcome of reforms under taken by the country in the shipping sector to enhance port productivity and improve visibility of the supply chain through digitalization.

Focus on improving connectivity to the hinterland through coordinated planning and execution under the PM Gati-Shakti National Master Plan and thrust on public private partnerships in the maritime sector has propelled India to move up to 22nd Rank in the Global Ranking in International Shipments category vis-à-vis the Overall 38th Rank as per country's Logistics Performance Index score.

Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, thrust has been on improving Port efficiency and productivity through policy reforms, induction of new technologies and greater Public Private Partnerships. Indian Ports have registered quantum improvement in "Turn Around Time".

Global comparison of Indian Ports on "Turn Around Time" parameter, as published in World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (I-PI) Report-2023, acknowledges Indian Ports "Turn Around Time" as 0.9 days which is better than USA (1.5 days), Australia (1.7 days), Belgium (1.3 days), Canada (2.0 days), Germany (1.3 days), UAE (1.1 days), Singapore (1.0 days), Russian Federation (1.8 days), Malaysia (1.0 days), Ireland (1.2 days), Indonesia (1.1 days), New Zealand (1.1 days) and South Africa (2.8 days).

India's Major Ports achieve Record-Breaking Milestones in FY 2022-23, Boosting Trade and Economic Growth – Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

Shri Sonowal highlights growth in exports and ambitious plans for technological advancements in the maritime sector.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said FY23 saw India's major ports reach unprecedented heights, setting new records across various key performance indicators.

Speaking at the 2nd Edition of FICCI’s Port Infrastructure Conclave in New Delhi Shri Sonowal noted that major ports collectively handled a record-breaking 795 million tonnes of cargo, registering a 10.4% growth over the previous year. Furthermore, they achieved the highest-ever output per day of 17,239 tonnes, marking a 6% increase compared to last year. Another significant accomplishment was the best-ever operating ratio of 48.54%. He said the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) set a new benchmark by handling over 6 million TEUs, reflecting the highest container throughput. He said the major ports recorded their highest-ever number of vessels handled, reaching a total of 21,846 vessels in the year.

Shri Sonowal  noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi the Indian shipping industry has witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of ships, gross tonnage, and seafarers employed. He said the fleet of ships sailing under the Indian flag has expanded from 1,205 in 2014 to 1,526 by 2023, showcasing the country's commitment to strengthening its maritime presence. This growth has been accompanied by a significant rise in gross tonnage, increasing from 10.3 million in 2014 to 13.7 million in 2023, reflecting the enhanced capacity and scale of operations. The Union Minister said furthermore, the number of Indian seafarers has grown from 1,17,090 in 2014 to a remarkable 2,50,071 in 2022, registering an increase of almost 114% in just nine years.

Shri Sonowal emphasised that these historic achievements underscore India's dedication to developing and modernising its port infrastructure to boost trade and support economic growth.

The Union Minister said India's progress in developing state-of-the-art port infrastructure and outlined future plans for the maritime sector. He pointed out, "95% of India's trading by volume and 70% by value is done through maritime transportation. For smooth and efficient trading, most-modern and advanced port infrastructure is of paramount importance."

Shri Sonowal emphasised the importance of incorporating technology into port operations, stating that "smart ports are the future, and we are already making significant strides towards this goal." By leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence, India aims to optimise port operations and boost efficiency. He alluded to recent digital initiatives such as the NLP-Marine and Sagar-Setu app, geared towards bringing all stakeholders onto a single platform, reducing logistical costs and time, and improving overall efficiency. Additionally, major ports are embracing automation, with the installation of gate automation, enterprise business solutions, and container scanners, he added.

Shri Sonowal said  that major ports are under development to become hydrogen hubs for handling, storage, and transportation of green hydrogen. Deendayal, Paradip, and V.O. Chidambaranar ports have already begun developing the necessary infrastructure for hydrogen bunkering, he said.

Mr Dhruv Kotak, Chairman, Ports & Shipping, FICCI Committee for Transport Infrastructure, lauded the government for its commitment to sustainability and green port initiatives. Mr Kotak noted that the Green Port Policy aims to transform the port ecosystem by focusing on emission management across scope one, scope two, and scope three emissions. 

Shri Sonowal also launched the FICCI - CRISIL Knowledge Paper on 'Smart, Safe & Sustainable Ports.' The Knowledge Paper delves into the key elements that contribute to the creation of smart, safe, and sustainable ports. It offers a comprehensive overview of the latest technological advancements, operational best practices, and sustainability initiatives that port operators can adopt to optimize port efficiency and minimize environmental impact.

PPA HONORS TOP PARTNERS IN “AWARDS NITE -2023”.

The Awards Nite -2023 was held, last evening, at the Biju Convention Centre of PPA. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri P. L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA said that the entire efforts of Port users and Team Paradip delivered 135.36 MMT cargo handling mark in FY 2022-23.  Paradip Port has recorded the highest ever growth of 19.02 MMT Traffic i.e 16.56 % over the last fiscals’ traffic among all the Ports in the country. Paradip Port has contributed 19.2 million metric tonnes i.e. 25.6% out of the total growth in cargo handling achieved by all the major ports during the financial year 2022-23. During the last financial year, the Port has achieved highest ever coastal shipping traffic of 58.42 million metric tonnes, with a growth of 16.22 million metric tonnes i.e. 38% over the previous year.  The thermal coal coastal shipping has grown by 14 million metric tonnes i.e. 50% over the previous year cargo handling. Thus, the Paradip Port is emerging as a hub for coastal shipping in the country. The berth productivity of 31050 MT achieved by Paradip Port is the highest among all the ports of the country. Shri Haranadh congratulated the entire team comprising of Exporters & Importers; who patronize the Port, Officers, Staff Unions, PPP Operators, Stevedores, Shipping Agents etc. whose combined effort has resulted in this stupendous achievement. Shri Haranadh, Chairman also expressed his gratitude to Hon’ble Minister, MoPSW, Shri Sarbananda Sonowalji, Hon’ble Ministers of State, MoPSW, Shri Shripad Naikji & Shri Shantanu Thakurji and Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, MoPSW, for their guidance and support.  He also expressed his thanks to Ministry of Railways, Department of Customs, Govt. of Odisha, and all other organizations who supported  the effort of the Port.

Shri Haranadh, then presented awards to the best performing Exporters, Importers, Stevedores, BOT Operators, HMC operators and Shipping/Steamer Agents like IOCL, TATA Steel, Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India Limited, Orissa Stevedores Ltd., M/s Chennai Radha Engg. Works (Pvt.) Ltd. etc. Shri A.K.Bose, Ex-Dy.Chairman, PPA was felicitated with Lifetime Achievement Award. Shri G. Edision, T.M., PPA offered the vote of thanks.

PPA Observes Closing Ceremony of National Fire Service Week - 2023.

The Paradip Port Authority (PPA) observed the Closing Ceremony of the National Fire Service Week on 20th of April. The National Fire Service Day is observed every year on 14th of April to pay homage to the brave Firemen and Officers who lost their lives in Bombay Dock Explosion on April 14, 1944 and on subsequent occasions. The same is followed by a weeklong special fire safety awareness campaign from 14th to 20th of April.

A massive Fire Safety Awareness Drive has been conducted w. e. from 3rd April to 20th April this year under the direction of Chairman, Paradip Port Authority so as to educate the Port Workers and stake holders as well as local public and school children about Fire Hazard, Fire Prevention and Fire-fighting. The theme for the year 2023 is:

“Awareness in Fire Safety for Growth of National Infrastructure (AGNI)”.

The Closing Ceremony was held at the Main Fire Station of CISF Fire Wing. Shri P L Haranadh, IRTS, Chairman PPA was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Addressing the gathering he stressed on creating fire safety awareness among stakeholders and appreciated the organizers for successfully conducting the Housekeeping Competition at Paradip Port. He further stated that due to the dedication and devotion to duty, CISF Fire Wing is now the most sought after Fire fighting Force in the Country having a strength of 8734 Fire-fighters & is providing fire safety coverage to 109 Maharatna Navaratna Companies/PSUs as on date. In his speech, Chairman also appreciated & desired that the CISF Fire Wing personnel must conduct regular training and mock-drills not only during this Fire Service Week but also throughout the year so as to be well prepared for any kind of eventuality. Fire management must be the responsibility of all the stakeholders so that during Emergencies, we can tackle without loss of property and lives.

At the outset, CISF Commandant Shri Akshat Patel welcomed the invitees and presented the annual report. An attractive live Fire-fighting Rescue and Disaster Management Demonstration was shown on the occasion. Prizes were distributed by the Chief Guest and other distinguished   guests to the winners of various Essay, Quiz, Drawing and Slogan Competition cum Fire  Drill Competitions organized during the Mass Fire Safety Awareness and Sensitization Campaign for Schools including Bethany, DAV, KV, NAC School etc. & Paradip Port College, Marine Academy as well as Homemakers and Wards of CISF and Coast Guard and Port Employees Families. A Special Housekeeping Competition was also held and Trophies were presented by the Chairman on this auspicious occasion. At the end, Deputy Commandant/Fire Shri Bishnu Swarup presented vote of thanks to all dignitaries and invitees.

The event was conducted by Company Commander Fire Wing Inspector Bhaskar Das & Inspector Sudhir Kumar and the same was highly appreciated by one and all present on this auspicious occasion.

PPA Observes Ambedkar Jayanti.

As a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Paradip Port Authority celebrated the legacy of Bharat Ratna Dr. B R Ambedkar as the PPA fraternity led by Shri P.L. Haranadh,  Chairman offered floral tributes at the statue of Dr Ambedkar in the morning. In a meeting held at Jayadev Sadan in the evening, Shri Haranadh graced the occasion as Chief Guest and said about the relevance of Ambedkars life principles in the present context. Dr. P.N. Bahekar, Secretary, PPA presided over the meeting. Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Ex MP, Shri Paresh Murmu, Ex Trustee, Shri Mahendra Kumar Mallick, Retd. IAS, Ex RDC, Central, Govt. of Odisha and Advocate Smt. Snehalata Dapati, Advisor, PPT SC/ST Welfare Association were among the dignitaries who highlighted the relevance of Ambdkar’s thoughts in the current scenario. Shri Parau Tudu, Dy. Secretary, PPA offered the vote of thanks.

PPA Observes National Fire Service Day.

The Paradip Port Authority (PPA) CISF Fire Wing observed the National Fire Service Day to pay homage to the brave Firemen and Officers who lost their lives in Bombay Dock Explosion on April 14, 1944 and on subsequent occasions at the Main Fire Station (PPA). A massive Fire Safety Awareness Drive is being undertaken w.e.f. 3rd April to 20th  April so as to educate the Port Workers and stakeholder about Fire Hazard, Fire Prevention and Firefighting. The theme for the year 2023 is:

“Awareness in Fire Safety for Growth of National Infrastructure (AGNI)”

The opening ceremony of National Fire Service Day was held at the Main Fire Station. PPA Chairman Shri P L Haranadh was Chief Guest on the occasion. Addressing the gathering he stressed on creating awareness among for school children and local public. He further stated that due to their dedication and devotion to duty, CISF is now the most sought after security organisation in the Country. CISF personnel must conduct regular training and mock-drills to be well prepared for any kind of eventuality. Fire management must be the responsibility of all the stakeholders so that during Emergencies, we can tackle without loss of property and lives.

CISF Commandant Shri Akshat Patel welcomed the invitees and Deputy Commandant Shri Bishnu Swarup presented the annual report. A live Fire Obstacle Drill was shown on the occasion which followed by Mass Fire Safety Awareness and Sensitization Rally comprising Fire Tenders, Motor Cycle Fleet with informative banners and Marathon and Cyclothon performers. The Rally was flagged off by Chairman (PPA) which passed through Badpadi Market, Bank Street and Administrative Building. Briefing of Fire Equipments was carried out for visitors at Display Point Main Fire Station.

Draft ‘Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy’ issued for Stakeholder Consultation.

Draft Policy aims to harness new technology developed by Indian Start-ups and entrepreneurs.

PM Narendra Modi termed startups as "backbone" of new India, continuing the same spirit through this policy, MoPSW is taking initiatives to promote start-ups through creativity and innovation: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

A nation's growth is augmented by start-ups and entrepreneurs. In order to build a strong innovation ecosystem, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) issued draft on ‘Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy’. This draft policy aims at nurturing start-ups and other entities to co-create the future of India’s growing maritime sector. This entails intensive collaboration of the organizations to build a strong eco-system facilitating innovation and Startups in the country that will drive sustainable growth and generate large scale employment opportunities. This enhances the cooperation and coordination between academic institutions, public sector, private sector and convergence of different schemes and programs to groom fresh ideas and approaches to resolve the issues and challenges to boost up the efficiency in the areas of operation, maintenance, and infrastructure development.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW stated: “the start-up India policy is the brainchild of PM Modi and this is the right step taken by MoPSW to create a strong ecosystem for fostering start-ups and innovation in the nation. This will surely promote innovation and entrepreneurship. Through this policy, MoPSW wants to enable start-ups to grow and prosper through innovations”

The designed framework enables the distribution of responsibilities and benefits among the various stakeholders. This is not only limited to the existing stakeholders but also includes upcoming young entrepreneurs with innovative ideas.

Draft policy has identified several key areas for the startup to flourish including decarbonization, optimizing processes through data, maritime education, multi-modal transportation, manufacturing, alternate/ advance materials, maritime cybersecurity, smart communication and marine electronics.

Details of draft ‘Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy’:

• Digital Portal based selection of startups ensuring a transparent process
• Grants to create a minimum viable product/ service (MVP), commercialization of proprietary technology including market entry or scaling up
• Creation of ‘Launch pads’ at Ports for carrying out trials, facilitating pilot projects, establishing working space and adopting products and solutions
• Annual Start-up Awards in the maritime sector recognizing distinguished efforts of innovation
• Organizing Buyer-Seller Meetings and providing Technical Knowledge Support for VCs
• Guidance to Non-Registered Start-ups and Individuals with promising ideas in Maritime Sector including registration of start-up and availing Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recognition
• Regulatory support in Tenders and Sub-contracting
• Legal and accountancy back up to start-ups for IP-Patent filing, Company registration, annual filings and closures

The promotion of start-ups shall be through development of Maritime Innovation Hubs (MIH) which shall perform the following functions:

• Develop incubators and accelerators with state-of-the-art facilities to cover all aspects of the start-up journey from idea to scaled product.
• Develop centralized repository containing all pertinent information to assist emerging entrepreneurs
• Attract investment for eligible start-up businesses and innovative maritime technology
• Entrepreneur development through ‘know-how’ sessions about the various aspects of the maritime industry and launching of innovation focused programs
• Collaborate with national & international stakeholders for mentorship, knowledge sharing and facilitate access to global subject matter experts, serial entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors with the potential to get their entry and scaling in the India

MoPSW feels proud to share that over the span of 8 successful years of Sagarmala, maritime sector has captured all the possible opportunities for the port-led development. Now, this policy will also create a field to establish a long-term action plans, network, infrastructure, and other resources to build a robust maritime innovation ecosystem.

60th National Maritime Day was celebrated at PPA.

60th National Maritime Day was celebrated at PPA in the Wet Basin of the PPA’s Marine Site office, where, Shri A.K. Bose, Ex-Dy. Chairman, PPA graced the occasion as Chief Guest. At the meeting, Shri Bose spoke about the rich Maritime Heritage of the Nation in ancient times. The state of Odisha also has a rich Maritime History which reflected by celebration of Port Day on the auspicious occasion of Kartika Purnima. Aligning with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, PPA has been giving stress to Coastal Shipping for reduced logistics costs and environment friendly approach. In FY 2022-23, PPA has recorded the highest amount of Coastal traffic i.e 58 MMT of Cargo and clocked 135 MMT cargo last FY.   

Addressing the gathering, Guest of Honour  Dr. Preeti Mahato, CVO, PPA highlighted the rich Maritime tradition of ancient India. Discipline, Co-ordination ,Leadership, Honesty, Integrity and Transparency are central to development of any organization. She lauded the outstanding performance of PPA which is time and again equally respecting the women folk and the children of Maritime community.  Shri Y.K. Singh, DIG, Coast Guard also spoke about the Maritime legacy of the country.

Shri Dillip Kumar Nayak, Principal, Centurion University was felicitated on the occasion for his tireless service and stellar contribution to the Indian Maritime Industry. Coinciding with the observations of National Maritime Day competitions like heaving line throw and rope climbing were held. Winners of the different competitions were also awarded on the occasion.

             Capt. A.C. Sahoo, Dy. Conservator, PPA gave the welcome speech. Capt. Indranil Mukherjee, Harbour Master compeered the programme and Er. Bablu Sikdar, Sr. Marine Engineer offered Vote of Thanks.

Note on Record rakes unloading at PPA.

                                                                                  
Paradip Port Authority began FY 2023-24 with a bang by unloading 53 nos. of rakes on 4th April 2023 surpassing previous best of 52 achieved on 1st February, 2023.  Shri PL Haranadh, Chairman, PPA congratulates Team PPA on this outstanding performance.

PPA achieves highest ever growth among Indian Ports.

Paradip Port clocks the highest growth of 16.56% among Indian Ports in FY 2022-23

• During the financial year 2022-23, Paradip Port has handled its highest ever annual traffic of 135.36 million metric tonnes against 116.13 million metric tonnes during the previous financial year. Thus, Paradip Port has also recorded highest ever growth of 19.2 million metric tonnes (16.56%) of traffic in a single financial year in its history.
• Thus, the growth in cargo handling achieved by Paradip Port is the highest among all Ports, both major and non-major, of the country.
• Paradip Port has contributed 19.2 million metric tonnes i.e. 25.6% out of the total growth in cargo handling achieved by all the major ports during the financial year 2022-23.
• During the financial year the Port has achieved highest ever coastal shipping traffic of 58.42 million metric tonnes, with a growth of 16.22 million metric tonnes i.e. 38% over the previous year.  
• The thermal coal coastal shipping has grown by 14 million metric tonnes i.e. 50% over the previous year cargo handling. Thus, the Paradip Port is emerging as a hub for coastal shipping in the country.
• Paradip Port has been able to improve its berth productivity to 31050 MT from 27295 MT of previous financial year, thus registering 13.76% growth. The berth productivity achieved by Paradip Port is the highest among all the ports of the country.
• During the financial year, the Port has handled 20,126 numbers of rakes, registering a growth of 20.45% over the previous financial year.
• During the financial year, the Port has handled 2394 ships, registering an increase of 16% over the previous financial year.
• The increased performance in cargo handling has been driven by various system improvement measures undertaken by the Port during the financial year, which are detailed as below:

1. Improved system of operation at mechanized coal hand plant to reduce idle time between rake unloading has resulted in highest handling of thermal coal at MCHP i.e. 29.22 million metric tonnes.
2. The engine on load system introduced for loading of railway rakes has reduced the rake turn round by approximately 17% and enabled the port to handle 12.5% of additional rakes.
3. The northern dock of the port has been declared for handling 16 meters draught cape vessels.
4. Simultaneous handling of 1 cape and 1 panamax at coal handling berths, which was not being done during the previous year.
5. Paradip Port has frozen its tariff for cargo handling at the level of 2022 for next 3 years as a part of its business development initiatives. It is to be noted that Paradip Port is the cheapest in terms of tariff among all the port of the country.

• Paradip Port, with 289 million metric tonnes rated capacity port as on date, is poised to cross 300 million metric tonnes capacity mark in another 3 years with the commissioning of Western Dock project. The Western Dock project with 25 million metric tonnes capacity has been awarded to M/s. J.S.P.L. during FY 2022-23. The said project will also increase the draught of the port, enabling the port to handle cape vessels by 2026.
• Paradip Port, which has mechanized 80% of the berths as on date, plans to become 100% mechanized by 2030 with the mechanization of existing  4 semi-mechanized berths.
• The Port has also planned to add another 4 berths for which requisite approval will be taken during the current financial year, itself.
• Paradip Port is planning to improve the connectivity by commissioning two road flyovers within its premises with a cost of Rs.150 crores to avoid surface crossing of rail and road traffic. This will enable the Port to handle road traffic seamlessly.
• As a part of its port lead industrialization initiatives, the Port has allotted 769 acres of land to various industries which will bring more than Rs.8700 crores of investment and thus attracting 50 million metric tonnes of traffic to port.
• Paradip Port, as part of its greenification, has planted 2 lakh saplings during the last year and it is expected to reach 1 million tree plantations by the year 2025.
• The Port has also planned to develop 10 MW solar power plant to power the operations of the port, totally by renewable energy. The Port is also planning to come up with green refuelling station by setting up LNG and CNG depot at the Port. 
• The Port is also aiming to develop one exclusive berth for handling green ammonia/green hydrogen thus becoming the hydrogen hub port of the country.
• The Port has rolled out NLP-Marine during this financial year which will enable all the customers to have integrated seamless provision of all services of the port on a single e-platform, as a part of its smart port initiative.  
• The Port is developing a ultramodern signal station with latest vessel traffic management information system in association with IIT, Chennai. This will improve the vessel management and marine operations substantially, apart from improving the security.
• Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman has congratulated the entire team comprising of Exporters & Importers; who patronize the Port, Officers, Staff Unions, PPP Operators, Stevedores, Shipping Agents etc. whose combined effort has resulted in this stupendous achievement.
• Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman also expresses his gratitude to Hon’ble Minister, MoPSW, Shri Sarbananda Sonowalji, Hon’ble Ministers of State, MoPSW, Shri Shripad Naikji & Shri Shantanu Thakurji and Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, MoPSW, for their guidance and support. 
• Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman also expressed his thanks to Ministry of Railways, Department of Customs, Govt. of Odisha, and all other organizations who supported  the effort of the Port.
• Shri A.K.Bose, MD, IPA, Dr. P.N.Bahekar, Secretary, Shri G.Edison, Traffic Manager, Shri D.N.Sondhi, FA & CAO and Capt. A.C.Sahoo, Dy. Conservator, PPA were also present on the occasion.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launches Sagar Setu Mobile App of National Logistics Portal Marine.

This app would help custodians in improved accessibility as mobile app allows easier access: Shri Sonowal

SAGAR SETU App to enable real time monitoring, approvals and transactions

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal today launched the App Version of National Logistics Portal (Marine)  ‘Sagar-Setu’ in the presence of Shri Shripad Y. Naik, MoS, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary  and other senior officials.

The app has been envisaged with deliverables covering features like Login Module, Service Catalogue, Common Application Format, Letter of Credit, Bank Guarantee, Certification, and Track & Trace etc. It will provide real-time information of activities that are generally not in reach of the importer, exporter, and customs broker including vessel-related information, gate, container freight stations and transactions on fingertips. It also enables digital transactions for payments required for the clearance process of import and export like container freight station charges, shipping line charges, transportation charges, etc.

While launching this app Shri Sonowal mentioned, ‘the SAGAR-SETU app of the National Logistics Portal (Marine) would help custodians in easier access to functionalities on a handheld device. Mobile App will ensure data mobility such that approvals & monitoring shall be at the finger tips of port & ministry officials and stakeholders as well’.

Benefits for Traders

• Improve convenience with reduced turnaround time for approval and compliances.

• Increase visibility of operations and tracking.

Benefits for Service Providers

• Help in tracking of records and transactions offered

• Receive notification of service requests.

It is pertinent to add that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping Waterways and Ministry of Commerce & Industry envisaged this one-stop digital platform National Logistic Portal Marine in the month of January 2023. Within a span of two months SAGAR-SETU app has been launched which will boost maritime trade thereby enhancing the economy of the country.

Addendum issued to Dredging Guidelines to adequately explore beneficial use of dredged material promoting concept of ‘Waste to Wealth.

Implementation of dredging project with beneficial use of dredged material is expected to bring down the cost of dredging and also ensure environment sustainability as per the concept of ‘Waste to Wealth’ and the mantra of 3R – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle given by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi : Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in order to bring the concept of ‘Waste to Wealth’ in the dredging sector has issued addendum to the Dredging Guidelines for Major Ports 2021. This will make provision for use of dredging material for beneficial purposes in bidding process with necessary clearance from the authorities.

The Dredging Guidelines for Major Ports were announced in 2021 to ascertain estimation of project cost, based on acceptable international standards by Major Port or schedule of rates by State Maritime Administration, such estimation of cost shall be dredger specific and based on principal particulars of dredgers.  The Guidelines includes latest technological systems on survey and investigations recommended for capital dredging projects.

The guidelines directed to work out dredging cost scientifically taking into consideration the operation cost and the mobilization & demobilization along with other cost of dredgers. Guideline further directed to engage two different agencies for Project Management Consultancy and Third Party Survey to avoid conflict of interest.

The guidelines were meant provide fair and equal opportunity for any new entrant to dredging industry as the same shall not be based either on Minor Ports Survey Organization (MPSO) Dredging Corporation of India DCI, the former company was closed and the later majority shares were disinvested; Concepts of Assured depth contract, EPC mode contract, annuity model/hybrid annuity model etc. needs to be considered as dredging option.

With this addendum to the previous Guidelines, the beneficial use of dredged material has to be adequately explored and accordingly the concept of ‘Waste to Wealth’ in the dredging sector has been highlighted, which is now being issued to the Major Ports, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), and Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) which are under administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

The Addendum to the Dredging Guidelines outlines the wide range of beneficial use of dredged material including engineering use for construction purposes, environmental enhancement including beach nourishment etc. There is need for extensive study of the characteristics of the dredged soil with Geo technical data of the dredging area of the dredging project.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted that ‘the implementation of the dredging project with beneficial use of dredged material, is expected to bring down the cost of the dredging and also ensure environment sustainability as per the concept of ‘Waste to Wealth’ and the mantra of 3R – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle given by our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’.

This addendum to the guidelines has also brought out the need for incorporating the data on type of soil and characteristics, approximate quantity of dredged material, disposal sites etc., to the potential bidders well in advance. In this regard, it has been suggested as additional guideline to incorporate the data on type of soil and characteristics, approximate quantity of dredged material, disposal sites etc., to the potential bidders well in advance. This is subjected to Environment condition for disposal of dredged material and also the permission from the Competent State Authority.

The bidder can be given option to submit the bids with cost towards execution of dredging work and the estimated value of dredged material with bid evaluation parameter as net cost (cost of dredging – the quoted price for the value of the dredged material). The Dredging companies may undertake the disposal of the dredged material while promoting the concept of Waste to Wealth.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates ‘Sagar Manthan’, the Real-time Performance Monitoring Dashboard of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways(MoPSW).

Developed in-house by the Ministry Dashboard to enable organizations to monitor and track the progress of their projects & Key Performance Indicators in real-time.

The launch of Sagar Manthan dashboard is a positive development towards Digital India vision of our Prime Minister: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.
 

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal virtually launched Real-time Performance Monitoring Dashboard of MoPSW ‘Sagar Manthan’ – Digital platform having all the integrated data related to the ministry and other subsidiaries. It was inaugurated in the presence of Shri Shripad Y. Naik, MoS, MoPSW; Shri Shantanu Thakur, MoS, MoPSW and other officials from the ministry.

This dashboard will transform the workings of various departments by improving well-coordinated real time information. This platform has been developed completely in-house under the guidance of Shri Sudhanshu Pant, IAS, Secretary, MoPSW in the span of less than 1.5 months efficiently.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said the launch of Sagar Manthan dashboard is a positive development towards Digital India vision of our Prime Minister. He said it will have a significant impact on the overall performance of organizations.

The Minister said effective project monitoring can ensure the timely completion of projects, informed decision-making, increased efficiency & effectiveness of projects. He said it also promotes real-time project tracking, risk management, resource allocation, and progress reporting.

Features of ‘SAGAR MANTHAN’ dashboard :

1. Data visualization

2. Real-time monitoring

3. Improved communication

4. Data-driven decision making

5. Increased accountability

In future, this dashboard would further be integrated with Input from CCTV camera, Live streaming from Drone, AI based Algorithm to map actual progress Digital Twin feature on board and Mobile App for easy access and usability by all stakeholder to increase the efficiency.

The launch of ‘Sagar Manthan’ Dashboard is a development towards digitalization and transparency in the maritime transport sector, and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is committed to supporting the growth of the sector in India.

Hon'ble Union Minister Shri Sonowal inaugurates India’s First National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping.

India aims at becoming ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030 with launch of Green Tug Transition Programme(GTTP): Shri Sarbananda Sonowal

Shri Sonowal inaugurates India’s First National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush Shri Sarbananda SonowaI has said India aims at becoming ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030 with launch of Green Tug Transition Programme(GTTP). Inaugurating India’s first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) in Gurugram,Haryana today he said the programme will start with ‘Green Hybrid Tugs’, which will be powered by Green Hybrid Propulsion systems, and subsequently adopting non-fossil fuel solutions like (Methanol, Ammonia, Hydrogen).The Minister said target has been set for the initial Green Tugs to start working in all major ports by 2025. At least, 50% of all the Tugs are likely to be converted into Green Tugs by 2030, which will considerably reduce emission as the country move towards achieving sustainable development ,he added.

Shri Sonowal said as India took the presidency of G20, it gives him immense pleasure to announce these initiatives as a major endeavour of the government towards a cleaner, greener environment. He said under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi we have been working towards strengthening our efforts towards building self reliance in Green Ship Building as well as installation of green solutions in all possible areas under the Ministry’s purview. He said we hope to become the global hub of Green Ship Building by 2030 as we witness tremendous business potential and yet remain completely dedicated towards building a greener world.

Taking about the first Centre of Excellence the Minister said the centre is a major attempt by the Ministry towards realising Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Mission LiFE movement. He said as per the vision of Prime Minister this movement is going to be an India led global movement for collective action to protect & preserve Environment. He said is centre is an important step towards this movement as it aims to transform ports and shipping turn more Environment friendly. He said this is a sincere attempt in the quest of the country to become carbon neutral by 2070 as envisioned by Prime Minister.

Country’s first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS)  is the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India and the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). With the NCoEGPS acting as the Nodal entity for the industry, the plan is afoot to make India as the ‘Global hub for building Green Ships’ by 2030. With these initiatives, the Centre is aimed at playing a crucial role towards achievement of UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 14) to sustainably manage and protect marine & coastal ecosystems from pollution, conservation & sustainable use of ocean based resources. The Centre will engage in developing the regulatory framework and alternative technology adoption roadmap for green shipping in India. The centre - housed within the TERI complex in Gurugram - will work towards meeting the obligations under the Paris Agreement.

Speaking at the inauguration of National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) at @teriin campus, Gurugram. https://t.co/BH5ZGZASox

— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) March 22, 2023

The PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan for Multi Modal Connectivity along with the Green Ports initiative has already accelerated the development of green logistics supply chain in the country. The ports have also aimed to reduce Carbon emissions per ton of cargo handled by 30% by 2030. The Maritime Vision Document 2030, released by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is a 10 Year blueprint on India’s vision of a sustainable Maritime sector and vibrant blue economy. India has been selected as the first country under the IMO Green Voyage 2050 project to conduct a pilot project related to Green Shipping. The ministry has already identified Paradip Port, Deendayal Port and V.O. Chidambaram Port to developed as Hydrogen Hubs - capable of handling, storing and generation of green hydrogen by 2030. With the development of these infrastructure, India will be able to export Green Hydrogen, produced in the country using renewable sources, with the support of NCoEGPS in technology and market leadership.

NCoEGPS will act as a technological arm of MoPSW for providing the needed support on Policy, Research and Cooperation on Green Shipping areas for Ports, DG Shipping, CSL and other institutions under the umbrella of MoPSW. The Center will be a host of several technological arms to support the port and shipping sector and will provide solutions to a variety of problems being faced in the industry through scientific research. It will also carry out valuable education, applied research and technology transfer in maritime transportation at the local, regional, national and International levels. It will focus on the following areas like energy management, emission management, Sustainable Maritime Operations etc. The NCoEGPS aims at empowering ‘Make in India’ in Port, Coastal and Inland water transport, and Engineering by developing state of art technologies and application products. It will enable fast-track innovations in order to provide most appropriate solutions to various challenges in these sectors. The Centre also aims to create a pool of competent manpower to the industry equipped with state of the art theoretical and practical knowhow. The NCoEGPS will work on 10 crucial projects, including ones on developing a regulatory framework for the usage of wind energy for marine applications, and identifying a suitable biofuel for blending with conventional marine fuels. It will also work towards identifying a fuel cell technology for long haul shipping as well as developing a regulatory framework for the transportation of hydrogen upto 700 bar pressure. It will also prepare detailed project reports on low energy consumption port, and on an offshore platform for tapping solar energy, production, storage and usage of green hydrogen.

The event was also attended by Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, MoPSW, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI and other senior officials of TERI as well as the ministry.

52nd Safety Week concludes at PPA.

Our Aim - Zero Harm" as the theme, 52^nd National Safety Week is being observed by Paradip Port Authority today came to an end. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA lowered the National Safety week Flag, this afternoon at an event held at Gate No. 4, in presence of Dy.Chairman, Shri A.K.Bose, Asst.Director, Dock safety along with other HODs and PPA officials and various stakeholders. A tribunal salute was offered by Shri P.K. Kar, Safety Officer, PPA. Addressing the gathering, Shri Haranadh stressed on mandatory annual health checkup of individual employees. With mechanization of all berths in coming years dumper movement in the cargo operational area is expected to be minimal. Road flyovers at level crossing will further ensure safety of human lives. 21 kilometre arterial concrete road with drainage area is being executed in the Port prohibited area. As safety and productivity go hand in hand employees must be imparted training and equipped with safety equipments to meet with any eventuality.

Guest of Honour Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPA called upon all the stakeholders to avoid near miss cases, analyse the  causes and take precaution to eliminate them. Accidents can be avoided if we follow safety norms properly. Additional Asst.Director, Dock safety Shri Somasekhar Bajaramath stated that productivity will increase by incorporating safety norms. We shouldn’t sign off safety as the week concludes, but continue this throughout the year. Safety Rath and Safety Rally have been the major highlights of the week long celebrations.

Thereafter, the winners of various competitions like safety essay, debate and poster competitions organised on the occasion were awarded. Captain A.C. Sahoo, CME I/c gave the welcome address and called upon all the stakeholders to make Safety as a  teamwork. Shri P.K. Kar, Safety Officer, PPA offered the vote of thanks.

CISF Unit of PPA celebrates 54th Raising Day.

The Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) Unit of Paradip Port Authority (PPA) observed its 54th Raising Day in its local complex.  Chief guest, PPA Chairman Shri P.L. Haranadh took the salute from the marching contingents.

Addressing the gathering, he said the CISF is created for the better protection and security of industrial undertakings in the country. It is no longer a PSU-centric force. With the number of personnel having reached over 1,63,000, it has transformed into a multi-skill security agency of the country mandated to provide security to the major diverse installations. Hard work, dedication and sincerity shown by the CISF personnel over the years is highly commendable. PPA is going to emerge as highest growing Port in the county in the current fiscal by registering a growth of 17-18%. It is emerging as one of the important cargo destination and local CISF Unit is always in forefront for ensuring security in the Port and contributing to its healthy productivity. A new modernized Vessel Traffic Management System will soon come up in the Port and it will boost the traffic movement in the Port.

 Function was organised under the guidance of CISF Commandant Shri Akshat Patel. Under the supervision of Deputy commandant Sh. Bishnuswaroop, CISF Personnel performed fire drill & dog demonstration on the occasion. Deputy Commandant, CISF Unit, PPA Shri B V Durgaprasad finally offered vote of thanks.

International Women’s Day Celebrated at PPA.

With the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, Paradip Port Authority in association with leading socio-cultural organization in the locality – “CANMASS” observed International Women’s Day. A function was organized in the evening at Jayadev Sadan in which Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Authority graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, he said that from this year onwards on the solemn occasion of International Women’s Day the meritorious women employees  and other women in port community who have excelled in their respective fields will be awarded by PPA. Giving a larger picture on women’s status he said that during Vedic period women have due importance in Indian society but it gradually decreased in due course of time. However in presence scenario women have tremendous opportunities to itself to be economically independent. Digital revolution will make the women folk equal with their male counter parts. Paradip port is going to finish this fiscal by recording 20 MMT surge in cargo in comparison to previous fiscal and for which working women employees have played significant role.

 Chief Speaker, noted Pediatrician Dr. Ranjita Pattnaik in her keynote address emphasised the importance of technology in bringing gender issues to light. She stressed on flexible working hours for working women to enable them for discharging their duties sincerely.  Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman said that the day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about right gaps, gender equality and achievements of individual women. Dr. PN Bahekar, Secretary  & Coordinator, Working Women’s Cell, PPA in his opening remarks said that the women have a significant role to play in development of the society. The International Women’s Day observation traces its roots to 1917, when Russian women protested for food and peace and as a result they are granted voting rights. Later in June’ 1975 the UNO  decided to observe International Women’s Day every year on 8^th March. Smt. Susmita Samal, Chairperson, Working Women Cell, PPA offered vote of thanks. Dr. Ranjita Patnaik & noted poetess and social activist Smt. Haramani Mohapatra were felicitated on the occasion for their outstanding contribution in their respective fields. Chairman, PPA also felicitated women officers and employees of PPA who have excelled in their respective fields in the current fiscal. Under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, various competitions were held among the family members of PPA employees and the winners were awarded on the occasion. Two major attractions of the gala cultural evening were dance performances of differently able children from Jagruty School and Fashion Show by Women employees of PPA. After the meeting, Paradip Ladies Club and CANMASS under the guidance of noted director Shri Sriman Narayan Mishra jointly staged a play “Sri Sri Mahalaxmi Puja”. An anthology of poems titled ”Nari Kabi Mancha” exclusively written by 25  women poets from the locality was released by Chairman, PPA.  Denizens of Paradip made a beeline to watch the programme.

52nd National Safety Day and Week begins at Paradip Port .

Our Aim - Zero Harm" as the theme, observation of the 52nd National Safety Day and Week began at Paradip Port Authority. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri P L Haranadh, Chairman, PPA inaugurated Safety Week Celebrations in the morning. He flagged off an awareness rally of employees and workers from Officers' Club chowk, which culminated at Gate No. 4 of PPA. Capt. A.C. Sahoo, CME (I/c), Shri Chandan Panigrahi, Dy. CEE, Shri Deepak Rath, Dy. CME, Shri Pradeep Kumar Kar, Safety Officer, PPA, Director of M/s. Chennai Radha, Shri B R Ramu, Regional Manager  Shri A. Ramesh, co-ordinated the event. As part of weeklong celebrations, various awareness activities like safety essay, debate and poster competitions among employees and ports users, seminars, dock safety training programmes will be conducted. 

PPA bags Major Port of the Year (non-containerized cargo) award in Eastern Region.

Eastern Star Awards Ceremony was recently held in Kolkata by Exim India, Shipping Times. Paradip Port bagged Major port of the Year, non containerised cargo award in Eastern region. Shri G. Edison, TM received the award from Shri Gopal Krishna, Former Secretary of Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. Congratulating on this achievement Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPA said that the award stands testimony to our hard work, efforts and indomitable spirit of team PPA.  

Share of renewable energy in ports to increase by 60%.

 Share of renewable energy in ports to increase by 60%: Shri Sarbanada Sonowal

 Three Major Ports, Paradip Port, Deendayal Port & V. O. Chidambaranar Port will be developed as Hydrogen Hubs: Shri Sonowal

The consultative committee for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW)had a discussion on ‘Green Port and Green Shipping’ today in Mumbai. During this meeting Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW; Shri Shantanu Thakur, MoS, MoPSW; Shri Arvind G.  Sawant, MP, South Mumbai; Shri Manoj Kotak, MP, Mumbai North East; Smt. Geetha Viswanath Vanga , MP, Kakinada; Shri Sudhansh Pant,  Secretary, MoPSW; Shri Rajiv Jalota, Chairman, Mumbai Port, Shri Sanjay Sethi, Chairman, JNPA; Shri Madhu S Nair,  Chairman, CSL; Captain Binesh Kumar Tyagi, Chairman, SCI; Dr George Yesu Vedha Victor, MD, DCI; Shri Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, MoPSW; Shri Sushil Kumar Singh, JS, Ports, MoPSW shared their views.

Under the Green Shipping and Green Shipping initiative of MIV 2030 major ports have implemented and initiated various activities that would help in reducing the GHG (Green House Gases) emissions from the Port and Shipping sector and help in achieving the targets set by the Government for making the maritime sector green and sustainable. Activities like Shore-to-Ship power, use and promotion of electrically powered Port equipments, use of alternate fuels like LNG/CNG, Storage and bunkering facilities for environment friendly fuels like LNG, CNG, Hydrogen, Ammonia etc., transition towards renewable sources of energy including Solar Power, Wind Power, Tidal power etc. have already been initiated at many of the Major Ports of the country. 

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said ‘‘The Ministry for Ports, Shipping and Waterways intends to increase the share of renewable energy to 60% of the total power demand of each of its major Ports from a present share of less than 10%.The ports have also aimed to reduce Carbon emissions, per ton of cargo handled, by 30% by the year 2030. The Maritime Vision Document-2030, released by Prime Minister, is a 10 Year blueprint on India’s vision of a sustainable Maritime sector and vibrant blue economy’’.

Shri Sonowal said as envisaged in the National Hydrogen Mission, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has identified and nominated Paradip Port, Deendayal Port and V.O. Chidambarar Port for developing them as Hydrogen Hubs, capable of handling, storage and generation of green hydrogen by the year 2030.

Ministry for Ports, Shipping and Waterways has undertaken green port initiatives in the major ports so that their environmental performance can be improved.  The green port initiatives include acquisition of equipments for monitoring environmental pollution, acquisition of dust suppression systems, setting up of STP’s garbage disposal system for ports and ships, developing shore reception facility for wastes from ships, setting up projects for energy generation from renewable energy sources, providing shore power to ships at berths, creating Oil Spill Response (Tier-1) capabilities at all ports, taking actions to improve harbour water quality, inclusion of sustainable practices in terminal design, development and operation, increasing green cover within port premises etc.

In order to enhance the share of Green Shipping, various projects are being implemented by Cochin Shipyard Ltd., India’s largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility. These include green urban mobility solutions like Hybrid Electric Ferries, autonomous Zero-emission vessels, pilot project on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry, Electric Catamaran Water Taxi, Hybrid Electric Ro-Ro, Hybrid LNG-Electric Inland Cargo Carrier, Hybrid Tugs, etc. The pace at which the Green initiatives are undertaken by the 12 major ports will surely bring a green revolution in the sector making the ports cleaner and greener, which is also a key component of ‘Blue Economy’, creating environmental benefits and balancing the investments and cash flow.

PPA achieves another Record by handling highest no. of Rakes.

Keeping up the operational excellence, Paradip Port achieved another record yet again by clocking highest no. of single day rakes' handling on 18th February 2023 i.e. 75 rakes (25 loading +50 unloading) and thusby, breaking its previous record of 74 rakes set on 08.02.2023. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman congratulated Team PPA  and said, "We are marching ahead towards our goal successfully and every step is full of hardwork and dedication.

22nd Paradip Port Invitational Golf Tournament held.

Woman golfer Smt. Madhu Chaddha emerged champion in the women category of Paradip Port Invitation Golf Tournament 2023, which concluded here on Sunday.Shri Dharmendra Mishra of Paradip Golf Club, became the champion of the tournament. In handicap (0 – 16) & (17 - 24) categories, Shri A.C. Sutar & Shri Deepak Sarangi of Paradip Golf Club became the winners respectively. In children putting, Ms. Diptimayee Behera became the winner.The Annual invitation Golf Tournament of Paradip Golf Club was held at  Paradip Port Golf Course. It was organised jointly by Paradip Golf Club  and Paradip Port Sports Council. Gracing the occasion, Dy. Chairman, PPA, Shri A.K. Bose,  Shri D.N. Sondhi, President, GKS and Smt. Suchismita Bose, Vice President, Paradip Ladies Club gave away the prizes.Paradip Golf Club president Shri DN Sondhi, working president, Shri Bablu Sikdar, Shri Manoj Kumar Mahanta, Secretary, Shri A.C. Sutar, Vice President, Dr. DP Sethi, Working President and Shri Ranjan Rashmi Beura, Secretary, GKS conducted the tournament successfully. Shri Rabi Das, Advisor,  sports council gave the vote of thanks. Total 70 golfers from 7 leading golf clubs  from eastern part of India participated in the tourney.

Record handling of rakes by PPA.

Paradip Port achieved 74 rakes' handling (47 inward loads plus 27 outward loads), which is the highest ever total loaded rakes handled by PPA in a single day i.e. on 08.02.2023 surpassing the previous best of 73 rakes handled on 31.03.2022. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman congratulated Team PPA as old records are getting tumbled & new milestones  become order of the day.

Annual Flower Show organized by PPA.

Beautiful blooms of various colours adorned Officers’ club at the 37th Annual Flower Show, which was organized by R & B Division of Paradip Port Authority this morning. Being held after a gap of two years, it was inaugurated by Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPA. He said that the basic objective of the flower show is to promote greenery and beautification in and around Port township. Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman and other HoDs were also present on the occasion.  

Around 126 participants exhibited spectacular collections of flowers, vegetables and plants in 40 different categories such as flowers, classified ornamental plants in cut and pot arrangements, bonsai, vegetables and foliage. The public and denizens thronged the place to visit various exhibition stalls. The myriad hues and scent of flowers at this flower show was mesmerizing. In a glittering function held in the evening at Officers' Club, Chairman, PPA, Deputy Chairman, PPA and other HODs awarded prizes to the winners in different categories.

Release on PPA Records.

Team PPA bettered its record of highest number of single day rakes handling as it clocked the  highest ever rake unloading of 52 nos. in a single day on 1^st February’ 2023. The previous best was 51 achieved on 21^st January’2023. In another development vessel MV ERATO with highest ever import parcel load of 1,48,521 MT of coal at 16.0m draft today berthed at KICTPPL Terminal.

Inauguration of National Logistics Portal-Marine.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates National Logistics Portal-Marine, a Single Window Logistics Portal to reduce the logistics cost.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated The National Logistics Portal (marine) in New Delhi today.

The National Logistic Portal (marine) (NLP) is a project of national importance, as envisaged by the Ministry of Ports Shipping Waterways and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. It is a one-stop platform aimed at connecting all the stakeholders of the logistics community using IT, to improve efficiency and transparency by reducing costs and time delays and achieving easier, faster, and more competitive offerings of services, to promote the growth of the logistics sector and thereby improve trade. NLP will be a single window for all trade processes of the logistics sector spread across the country covering all modes of transport in the waterways, roadways, and airways along with an E-marketplace to provide a seamless end-to-end logistic service coverage.

NLP Is a one stop marketplace where all logistic stakeholders are integrated for easier, speedier & competitive services thereby promoting trade and growth.

The implementation of NLP had been initiated in July 2021 with the development of NLP Marine as a first phase. It is an “open platform” that allows the coexistence of multiple service providers to provide EXIM-related services independently or by combining different connectivity options. It has the capability to integrate with various Port Operating Systems/ Terminal Operating Systems, ICEGATE, Other regulatory agencies, and stakeholder(s) systems in the ecosystem. It aims to reduce regulatory complexities and enhance the ease of doing business by moving towards user-friendly paperless trade. This will be accomplished by utilizing the prowess of IT infrastructure to develop a single window, centralizing all necessary documentation, compliance certifications, and formal procedures necessary for the EXIM trade.

                                                                                     INTEGRATED PLATFORM FOR EXIM STAKEHOLDERS

The activities of NLP Marine are categorized into four distinct verticals viz. i. Carrier, ii. Cargo, iii. Banking and Finance and iv. Regulatory Bodies and Participating Government Agencies (PGAs). This will enrich the user experience through end-to-end tracking of the shipment with notifications at each stage, seamless exchange of documents, and the ability to securely transact with transparency and speed.

The NLP Marine experience is enhanced further with the Latch On feature, which facilitates the trade in providing the required features that are not directly embedded into NLP Marine, by linking through systems developed by other agencies seamlessly without duplication of efforts. It is envisaged that many standalone applications, developed by multiple vendors, users, and other stakeholders will integrate with NLP Marine through appropriate curation. It also enables digital transactions for payments required for the clearance processes such as Port charges, CFS charges, shipping line charges, transportation charges, etc.

Addressing the gathering Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “The Prime Minister on 15th August 2021 announced the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to provide systematic, multi modal connectivity to various economic zones for seamless movement of people, goods & services resulting in efficient conduct of logistics and economic activities. To fulfil this mission Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has developed the NLP (marine) is an “open platform” that allows the coexistence of multiple service providers to provide EXIM-related services independently or by combining different connectivity options.”

PPA Celebrates Republic Day 2023.

Republic Day was celebrated with pump and gaiety by Paradip Port Authority Shri P.L. Harandh, Chairman, PPA unfurled the National Flag. Addressing on the occasion, he said that Paradip Port achieved yet another 100 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of cargo handling sixth year in a row. It once again repeated the feat by crossing the 100 MMT mark in succession and achieved cargo throughput of 100.22 MMT till 9th January in the current fiscal. Notably, last year the coveted mark of 100 MMT was achieved on February 18th 2022. Thus by, the record was achieved in 40 days in advance i.e in 284 days in current fiscal against 324 days last financial year by exhibiting 17 % growth in total cargo throughput till date.

The Port is poised to set all time record cargo handling of more than 130 MMT in current fiscal. Various system improvement measures, introduced by the port during this year, fuelled growth. Coastal Thermal Coal handling has shown a remarkable 58.11% growth in comparison to previous fiscal and it also constitutes about 31.56% of total cargo volume handled at the Port. Paradip port is emerging as a coastal shipping hub of the country and has plans even to coastal ship thermal coal to power houses, located in Rajasthan, UP and Haryana.

Capacity expansion, port modernisation and enhancing the port connectivity has been the success mantra for Paradip Port. The port has added 55 MMTPA of Capacity including 30 MMTPA of berth mechanisation in the recent 5 years. Presently the Port capacity stands at 279 MMTPA, the highest among Major ports. The Port has recently signed Concession Agreement with M/s Jindal Paradip Port Limited for development of 25 MMTPA Western Dock Project, construction for which will commence shortly. This will take the Port capacity beyond 300 MTPA upon its completion. This Western Dock project will enable the port to handle fully laden Cape size Vessels requiring draft upto 18 mtrs. This will bring economy of scale to the profitability of the customers. Over 80 MTPA capacity addition projects are in pipeline to be awarded by FY 2030. Looking beyond it, the Port envisions to take its capacity to over 500 MTPA by the Amrit Kaal 2047.

            Going ahead, the Port has laid down sustainable eco-friendly development as the forward strategy to success. Along with it framework have been laid upon to reduce pollution, implement waste management and recycling of dredge material at the port. Several green initiatives are underway at the Port such as increasing the port power usage to solar energy, adopting to multi-clean fuel vehicles such as LNG and electric vehicles in the port, dust and pollution control as a part of corporate environment responsibility (CER) and driving greenification of the port by maintaining One Million tree coverage by 2025. In future the Paradip Port is destined to not only be a Mega Port but also a Clean & Green Port with the Government led push such as Sagarmala & GatiShakti.

·                For staff welfare, insurance coverage has been provided to over 900 employees and 800 contract workers giving coverage of Rs.5 lakhs for natural death.

·                Constructions of 147 residential quarters have been planned for accommodation of Port employees and in Phase 1, for 91 quarters, tender will be floated soon.

·                Induction of 3 more Road Sweeping Machines to the existing fleet of 02 nos. for maintaining cleanliness in township area.

·                STPs have been awarded during recently concluded Special Campaign 2.0 run by the Union Govt. as one of the best sewerage management system.

·                For Fishermen community, the Port planed to undertake modernization of Fishing Harbour with Rs. 100 crore under PM Mastya Sampad Yojana

Recently, the Port has rolled out National Logistics Portal Marine, which is a single window access to information and services those are electronically delivered to all the agencies. It will help exporters and importers to exchange documents seamlessly and transact business in a transparent & quick manner. It is the first of its kind to provide B2B and B2G services to marine trade stakeholders.

            Thereafter, Shri Haranadh awarded prizes to winners of various competitions held among local school children & Officers and employees of various departments, who have excelled in their respective work area. Later on Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman awarded winner and Runners up Trophies to the marching contingents. An exhibition cricket match was held among PWD employees of the Port and in the evening inter-school dance competitions on patriotic theme were held among school children at Jayadev Sadan.

SCADA system for STP inaugurated at PPA.

Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA today inaugurated the SCADA system which will operate the drain connectivity and septic tanks of JB, JC, CHA & GJAI colonies with Swearage Treatment Plant No 3 at Bhima Bhoi colony with no engagement of manpower. By this the waste water will be collected from drain and treated in the treatment plant and reused in sprinkling to supress the dust and gardening purpose only. During the short supply of water, it will be helpful for sprinkling & gardening and thus will reduce the wastage of water. During inauguration Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, Shri Moloy Dasgupta, Chief Engineer, Shri HS Rout, Dy. CE and other Sr. Officials were also present.

Highest ever rake unloading at PPA.

PPA creates history among all Indian Major Ports by clocking Half a century inward rake unloading in a single day i.e. 51 nos. on 21st January 2023. The previous highest was 48, achieved on 18th January. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA has congratulated Team PPA for yet another stupendous performance.

Another record by PPA.

Paradip Port Authority achieved another record by getting highest ever inward rakes released in a day i.e. 48 nos. on 18^th January’2023. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman lauded Team PPA for yet another stupendous performance. The previous record was 47 nos. of rakes achieved on 4^th January’2023.

Highest ever single day cargo throughput of PPA.

Paradip Port  clocked the highest ever single day cargo throughput of 6,60,094 MT on 17th January 2023. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman congratulated Team PPA as old records are getting tumbled & new milestones  become order of the day.  It may be noted that PPA achieved highest ever daily traffic of 649730 MT on 14th of last month. 

As the Port is vying for highest ever cargo throughput of 130 MMT in current fiscal, till 17th of this month it has attained cargo throughput of 103.92 MMT, showing a growth of 16.6% over corresponding period of previous fiscal.

Fastest ever century in cargo handling by PPA.

Sixth year in a row: PPA achieves 100.22 MMT mark in Cargo Handling.

Paradip Port achieved yet another 100 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of cargo handling sixth year in a row. It once again repeated the feat by crossing the 100 MMT mark in succession and achieved cargo throughput of 100.22 MMT till 9^th January in the current fiscal. Notably, last year the coveted mark of 100 MMT was achieved on February 18^th’ 2022. Thus by, the record was achieved in 40 days in advance i.e in 284 days in current fiscal against 324 days last financial year by exhibiting 15.77 % growth in total cargo throughput till date.

 The Port is poised to set all time record cargo handling of more than 125 MMT in current fiscal. Various system improvement measures, introduced by the port during this year, fuelled growth. Coastal Thermal Coal handling has shown a remarkable 58.11% growth in comparison to previous fiscal and it also constitutes about 31.56% of total cargo volume handled at the Port. Paradip port is emerging as a coastal shipping hub of the country and has plans even to coastal ship thermal coal to power houses, located in Rajasthan, UP and Haryana.

Marking the occasion, symbolic cake cutting was done today at at Board Room by Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA in presence of Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman and other HoDs and Dy. HoDs.

For the above feat, Shri Haranadh, Chairman, PPA expressed his gratitude to Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Ji, Hon’ble Minister of MoPSW under whose dynamic leadership and guidance, PPA could turn a new chapter. He congratulated all Officers/Employees, the user industries, Stevedores, Steamer Agents, Trade Unions, PPP Operators to have their continued faith in the ability of the Port to serve them.  Chairman, PPA also takes the pleasure of appreciating the support of Govt. authorities like Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (GoI), Govt. of Odisha, Indian Railways, Customs, Immigration Department, Dock Safety, MMD as well as the partnership with all Service Providers/Terminal Operators for their sustained effort.

PPA observes 62nd Port Foundation Day 364 competitors join Paradip Marathon.

The 18th Paradip Marathon 2023 was conducted by the Gopabandhu  Kreeda Sansad of Paradip Port Authority (PPA) on Tuesday on the occasion of 62^nd Port Foundation Day with Chief Guest PPA Chairman Shri P.L. Haranadh flagging it off at Hanuman Temple Square. Shri Mukesh Mohan, ED, IOCL, Shri Y.K.Singh, DIG, Local Coast Guard Unit were Guests of Honour.

 The marathon covered a route of 14 km and concluded at the Gopabandhu Stadium amid great encouragement by the inhabitants of the port town and members of other organisations. A total of 364 competitors, 314 male and 50 female, participated in the run.

Shri Ashok Dandasena of Odisha police won the first prize in the men’s category by completing the distance in 43’ (minute) 06.7”( second), Shri Arjun Tudu from Jamshedpur got the second prize with 43 ‘ 3.8” and shri Lakhan Soren of Jamshedpur got the third prize in this category by clocking 43’30.8”.     

            In the women category, Ms. Samsad Ara Begum from Khurda won the first prize by completing the distance in 53’ 40.6” , Ms. Puja Behera from Balasore the second prize by completing the distance in 54’16” and Ms. Sandhya  Murmu from Mayurbhanj  won the third prize in 55’ 28.5”

PPA Chairman Shri Haranadh, Shri H.D Sharma, SGM. IFFCO, Guests of honour, PPA Heads of the Departments and members of Paradip Ladies club gave away cash prizes at the valedictory function held at the Gopabandhu Stadium.

Addressing the gathering Shri P.L.Haranadh, PPA Chairman highlighted how the Team PPA  has clocked all time record monthly Cargo Handling among all Major Ports in the country by achieving 12.6 MMT mark in December’2022.

The port is now vying for coveted 130 MMT mark in the current fiscal in spite of shortage in Iron Ore cago. He also congratulated the employees, family members, importers, exporters, unions, PPP operators and other stake holder for this massive achievement. As marathon involves running a greater distance untiringly, so organising the event like Paradip marathon on the occasion of 62^nd  Port Foundation Day has its own significance. The port should continue its marathon to achieve better accomplishment in coming future.   Shri Haranadh  lauded the participants who have come from different parts of the country to join the marathon.   

            Officials and technical members of the Paradip Port Sports Council  led by Shri D.N. Sondhi, President, Dr. D.P. Sethi, Working President, Gopabandhu Kreeda Sansad & Shri Ranjan Rashmi Beura, Secretary and Shri Rabi Das, Advisor, Sports, GKS with the assistance of the officials from the Odisha Olympic Association conducted the marathon smoothly.

Paradip Port signs off 2022 by posting record monthly cargo volume in the history of all Major Ports in the Country.

The New Year 2023 began at Paradip Port with a bang as Team PPA signed off 2022 by clocking highest ever monthly cargo throughput in the history of all Major Ports in the country, with all time record cargo handling of 12.6 MMT in December, 2022. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA congratulated the Team PPA for this magnificent performance. The New Year 2023 is going to augur well for the Port, as it is all set to cross the coveted 100 MMT cargo handling mark, in the month of January itself. The Port is poised to set all time record cargo handling of more than 125 MMT in current fiscal. Till December, 2022 PPA has handled 96.81 MMT cargo against 83.6 MMT in the corresponding period of previous fiscal. Various system improvement measures, introduced by the port during this year, fuelled growth to the tune of 15.5% over last year. Coastal Thermal Coal handling has shown a remarkable 58.11% growth in comparison to previous fiscal and it also constitutes about 31.56% of total cargo volume handled at the Port. Paradip port is emerging as a coastal shipping hub of the country and has plans even to coastal ship thermal coal to power houses, located in Rajasthan, UP and Haryana.

PARADIP MARATHON-2023 ON THE OCCASION OF PORT FOUNDATION DAY ON 3RD JANUARY-2023.

   Marathon will be flagged off by the Chief Guest, Chairman, PPA at 07.30 AM on 3rd January 2023 at the Hanuman Temple near Gate No.5 and conclude at Gopabandhu Stadium passing through the designated route covering a distance of 14 Kms. The route will be identified, marked and the route chart will be provided to all the participants. The participants must be above 18 years & below 40 years of age as on 31.12.2022 and have to submit fitness certificate from a Govt. Medical officer or PPA medical officer. A panel of doctors from Port Authority will also be made available to check the fitness of participants, incase of necessity.

All men participants have to deposit an entry fee of Rs.50/- per head and Rs.30/- for women participants. The participants will be supplied with a set of Banion & Short and chest nos. in duplicate. All outstation participants will be provided with unfurnished accommodation and dinner i.e. on 02.01.2023. On the Marathon day, breakfast will be provided to all participants after the Marathon, at Gopabandhu Stadium. The application along with medical fitness certificate, undertaking, xerox copy of voter ID/Aadhar Card & Age proof certificate and entry fee in cash will be received at the time of registration. Registration of participants will be made on 1st January 2023 & 2nd January 2023 at Gopabandhu Stadium.

01-01-2023 - Local participants under Paradip Municipality area -10.00 AM to 04.00 PM. (Lunch Break from 1.30 PM to 2.30 PM)

01.01.2023 &

02.01.2023 - Outstation participants -10.00 AM to 04.00 PM. (Lunch Break from 1.30 PM to 2.30 PM) Registration will continue until registration of 600 boys and 100 girls or till 4 PM whichever is earlier.

N.B. No entry will be made in the registration as well as attendance after the scheduled time.

Attendance of the participants shall be taken at Hanuman Temple near Gate No.5 on 03.01.2023 from 06.30 AM to 07.30 AM. The time limit for completing the total distance of Marathon (14 km) will be 2 (Two) hours from the starting time.

The winners of 18^th Paradip Marathon will be awarded prizes as per followings:

  The first 150 participants in men category and first 50 participants in women category covering the distance of 14 KM will be given mementos after which participants who complete the distance within 2 hrs. Will be provided only certificate of participation.

All the District Associations and Registered Clubs should encourage more and more athletes to participate in the event particularly women athletes and nominate participants in large numbers to take part in the Marathon 2023.

Participants may contact to the following number of Paradip Port Sports Council for further details: (10.00 AM to 07.00 PM) 06722 -222076.

YEAR END REVIEW -2022 Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

567 projects identified under Sagarmala Programme for Holistic Development of Coastal Districts with an estimated cost of Rs. 59,000 crore.

Coastal shipping traffic  grows from 74.9 MMTA in 2014 to 133 MMTPA in 2022.

Clear and robust pipeline of 81 projects of more than Rs 42,400 crore to be awarded on PPP till FY25.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port becomes first 100% Landlord Major Port.

The 1st Incredible India International Cruise Conference 2022  organized at Mumbai.

CSL created maritime history  by delivering of the prestigious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant to Indian Navy: With the delivery of Vikrant, India has joined a select group of nations having the niche capability to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier.

SAGARMALA PROGRAMME

(i)        Concept

Institutional framework for Sagarmala Project approved by the Cabinet. At the top of the framework, a National Sagarmala Apex Committee has been formed for overall policy guidance and high-level coordination, and to review aspect of planning and implementation of the plan and projects. The committee has been empowered to provide policy direction, guidance for the initiative implantation and review the progress of implementation of maritime plan. Till now Sagarmala has a tally of 802 projects worth Rs 5.4 Lakh Cr. which are currently under monitoring. Out of these, 220 projects to the tune of Rs 1.12 Lakh Cr. have been completed, 231 projects worth Rs. 2.21 Lakh Cr. are being implemented and the remaining projects are under various stages of development. Further, for the Holistic Development of Coastal Districts 567 projects with an estimated cost of Rs. 59,000 crore have been identified under the four pillars of Coastal Infrastructure Development, Coastal Industrial Development, Coastal Tourism Development and Coastal Community Development.

(ii)       National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways approved setting up of a National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal - proposed to be implemented in 3 phases. It would be the first of its kind world class Museum complex and an international tourist destination in the country to showcase India's rich Maritime Heritage dating back from Harappan times. Government of Gujarat (GoG) has transferred 375 acres of land in village Saragvada on lease for 99 years at token rate to MoPSW. EPC contract for the project has been awarded to M/s Tata Projects Ltd in March 2022. Also, a first tranche of funding of Rs. 150 Cr has been received from Govt. of Gujarat for developing the basic internal infrastructure of the project. Under Sagarmala funds amounting to Rs. 122 crore have been released so far.

Excavations by @ASIGoI have discovered the oldest man-made dockyard at Lothal with an international importance dating back to 2600 BCE to 2000 BCE. National Maritime Heritage Complex being developed at Lothal by MoPSW is dedicated to the legacy of maritime heritage of India. pic.twitter.com/PZB7tmn66Q

— Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (@shipmin_india) December 22, 2022

(iii)     Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax

Water transport being economical as well as eco-friendly mode of transport, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways under Sagamala programme has undertaken Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax and passenger jetty projects across several routes. 15 new projects have been identified in the State of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka for development of Ro Ro / Ro Pax ecosystem taking the tally of RoRo/Ropax Jetty projects to 71 under Sagarmala programme. 9 projects have already been completed with a total financial assistance of ~Rs. 207 crore under the Sagarmala funding scheme. Among these, one of the key impact projects is the ROPAX ferry between Ghogha – Hazira commenced from November, 2020which resulted in reduction of travel time from 10 hours to 4 hours apart from facilitating quick movement of 15,000+ trucks, 50,000 cars and around 2 lakh passengers so far. Similarly, to ease the road congestion in Mumbai, the government launched ferry service between Mumbai-Mandwa from November, 2022 resulting in reduction of distance of 109 km by road to 18.5 km sea-distance, time reduction from 3 hours to just 45 minutes and provided much needed relief to passengers resulting in movement of 5.5 lakh+ passengers and 1 lakh+ vehicles so far. Services have also been started on several routes in North – South Guwahati, Dhubri – Hatsingimari, Majuli – Neamati, Wellington Island – Bolgatty.

(iv)      Coastal Shipping

Promotion of Coastal Shipping is topmost priority of the Ministry under Sagarmala and the ministry has undertaken several initiatives to promote coastal shipping in the country. In order to continue this pace and seek further growth of coastal trade, a perspective plan up to 2025 on development of coastal shipping in India has been prepared by Asian Development Bank. To encourage a modal shift, Coastal vessels are being provided a discount of 40% in port charges over foreign going vessels. Other measures such as reduction of GST on bunker fuel from 18 percent to 5 percent, Cabotage relaxation for cargo vessels, integration of inland and coastal cargo, Subsidy support to Indian shipping companies, Green channel clearance for coastal cargoes and priority berthing for coastal vessels at major ports are some of the efforts to promote coastal shipping. GOI is providing assistance for construction or upgradation of exclusive coastal berths, platforms or jetties, mechanization of coastal berth, and capital dredging. Five dedicated Coastal Berths have already been constructed at various ports and another six are under development at various other ports. With the advent of PM GatiShakti and National Logistic Portal, Coastal shipping will get further required boost and will help in realizing the goal of bringing down the overall logistic cost. The coastal shipping traffic has grown from 74.9 MMTA in 2014 to 133 MMTPA in 2022.

(v)       Cruise Terminals

Under the coastal shipping and IWT pillar of Sagarmala programme, there are various projects which specifically focus on promotion of cruise passenger transport. Upgradation/Modernization of International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai at a total coast of Rs. 303 crore has been undertaken in Sagarmala. Further, Ministry is providing assistance to Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port for Development Of River Cruise Terminal And River Tourism Facility Along With Riverfront Beautification Work.

(vi)      Floating Jetties

For development of water aerodromes /Floating jetties, guidelines on various technical aspects for implementation including the suitability of Floating Jetty/ platform and their broad Performance Criteria & Specifications and Loading and Stability were issued by the Ministry and has given approval to Syama Prasad Mookerjee port Authority (SMPA) for undertaking prefeasibility studies at 8 locations identified in the state of Jharkhand and West Bengal. Letter of Intent (LOI) has been issued to successful bidder to carry out prefeasibility studies at the identified locations.

(viii)   Coastal Community Development         

For the welfare of fishermen community, the Ministry is part-funding fishing harbour projects in convergence with Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D) under their Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Ministry under Sagarmala Programme has taken up modernisation of 5 Major Fishing harbour at Major Ports at a total estimated projects cost of Rs 549.03 Cr. A new initiative Ministry has identified a total of 166 locations in various costal states/UTs for development of floating jetties out of which MoPSW in consultation with IIT, Chennai and based on a desktop analysis has prioritized 50 locations for development of floating jetties.

(ix)      Skill Development

Phase 2 of Sagarmala Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushal Yojana (DDUGKY) for convergence for skill development in Port and Maritime Sector is progressive in Gujarat, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. 2400 candidates have been trained during Phase 2 of the program of which around 1200 candidates have been placed in logistics, ship breaking, tourism and hospitality industries. Multi-skill Development Centres (MSDC) are being setup at all major ports. MSDCs linked to Jawaharlal Nehru Port is operational. Further, more than 39,000 candidates have been trained in the Safety Training Institution at Alang Ship Breaking Yard.

PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

(i)        National Monetization Pipeline (NMP)

• The Ministry has a clear and robust pipeline of 81 projects of more than INR 42,400 crore which are going to be awarded on PPP till FY25.
• 13 projects of value INR 6,944 crore for financial year FY 2021-22 approved by the Government.7 projects of INR 5,278 crore have already been awarded and others are in various stages of bidding.
• 24 projects of value ~INR 12,550 crore scheduled for award in FY 2022-23. Out of which approval to 7 projects has been accorded by the Government, 1 project of value Rs. 343 crore has been awarded and other are under tendering/development phase.
• Balance 44 projects of value more than INR 22,790 crore are identified for PPP mode from FY 2024 and FY 2025.
• With the cargo volume expected to increase between 1.7 to 2 times (of 2020) by 2030, the percentage of cargo handled at Major Ports by PPP or other operators, is expected to reach 85% by year 2030.

(ii)       Development of Multipurpose Cargo Berth Off Tuna Tekra

Development of Multipurpose Cargo (other than Container/Liquid) Berth Off Tuna Tekra at Gulf of Kutch at Kandla on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode with an estimated cost of Rs.2,250.64 crore accorded by the Government through Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Development of Berth will give it a strategic advantage as it will be the closest container terminal serving the vast hinterland of northern part of India.

(iii)     Development of Container Terminal at Tuna-Tekra,

Development of Container Terminal at Tuna-Tekra, Deendayal Port on Build, Operate & Transfer (BOT) basis under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode with an estimated cost of Rs 4,243.64 crore accorded by the Government through Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. On commissioning of the Project, it shall cater to the future growth in Container Cargo traffic.

PORTS SECTOR

(i)        Digitization

Major strides have been taken at the major ports towards the digitization of key EXIM processes. The PCS 1x has digitized processes such as Electronic Invoice (e-Invoice), Electronic Payment (e-Payment) and Electronic Delivery Order (e-DO) for physical release of cargo by custodians. Further, the process of generation of electronic Bill of Lading (e-BL) and enabling the Letter of Credit (LC) process to be conducted digitally have already been implemented in the PCS 1x. There is also going to be complete integration between PCS 1x and Indian Customs EDI Gateway (ICEGATE). Further the process to bootstrap PCS 1x into National Logistics Portal-Marine (NLP-Marine) is already underway which will act as a Unified Digital Platform all maritime stakeholders. NLP Marine + PCS 1x platform is envisaged as the central hub for all interactions with various stakeholders viz. Port, Terminals Shipping Lines/ Agents, CFS and Customs Brokers, Importer / Exporter etc.

Now, PCS module of NLP-M has been partially released on 5/12/2022. NLP-M is integrated with ICEGATE via SFTP for existing messages, further for SCMTR messages LP-M-ICEGATE is getting integrated for API integration. Out of 11 API payloads, 7 API payloads have been integrated.

Further, the Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) solution has been implemented at all major ports to enable seamless movement of traffic across port gates, including substantial reductions in documentation checks. All Major ports have already implemented Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID). Up gradation and integration with recent technologies- IGoT, Block Chain to ease transaction and real time basis tracking has been envisaged in Maritime India Vision 2030.

(ii)       Major Port Authorities Act, 2021

The Major Port Authorities Act 2021 (1 of 2021) has come into force with effect from 03.11.2021. Five Rules under the Act notified in the Gazette of India on 22nd November 2021. The Sixth Rule i.e. the “Major Port Authorities (Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Board Members) Rules, 2022” have been notified on 26.09.2022.

(iii)     Conciliation and Settlement Committee for Major Ports

Commercial dispute resolution through Arbitration or Courts has been found to be exceedingly time consuming and financially burdensome on commercial entities like Major Ports. An alternate dispute resolution mechanism was set up for  Major  Ports  in  October  2021 through appointment of a Conciliation & Settlement Committee (CSC) comprising of independent experts with innovative features  like  fee  to  conciliators  based  on  success  and  specified  time limit of 6 months for resolution  of  dispute. This dispute resolution mechanism will bring finality to a dispute as the parties reach to an agreement and thus do not require to further approach arbitration or court forums.

The    Committee    took   up   a   commercial   dispute   case of   Mormugao   Port Authority and   Roadwings  International  Private  Limited  in December  2021. The  contract  ‘Supply,  operation,  Maintenance  of  Container handling equipment, Logistics and Yard Management at Berth No. 10 & 11 for a period of 5 years was beset with commercial disputes since start in  2018  which  remained  unresolved  for  four  years.  Both the parties reached a mutually acceptable settlement with the suggestion, aid and advice of the Committee which was authenticated by the conciliators on 01st March, 2022. The dispute was thus mutually resolved in 3 meeting and within 3 months of reference to CSC.

 (iv)      Inauguration of DFC Compliant Rail Yard

Union Minister, MoPSW, inaugurated the DFC Compliant Rail Yard and the recently renovated Administration Building at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) on 15.05.2022. He also launched the First Sustainability Report and reviewed various infrastructure and developmental projects at the Port.

(v)       JNPA SEZ Investor Conclave 2022

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), organized ‘JNPA SEZ Investor Conclave 2022’ on 27.05.2022 in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Mumbai for investors to invest and be a part of country’s growing port-led economy. In line with the objective of Port-led Industrialization, this multiproduct Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project is developed on 277.38 Ha of freehold land by JN port, incorporating the Land Use Plan of the Port. This industrial hub is India’s first Port-based multi-product operational SEZ.

(vi)      Grant of moratorium to Cochin Port Authority

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a moratorium of three years (2020-21, 2021-22 & 2022-23) on 14.06.2022 for the Cochin Port Authority (CoPA), towards repayment of the balance outstanding Government of India (GoI) loans amounting to Rs. 446.83 crore to tide over the financial crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic.

(vii)    Jawaharlal Nehru Port becomes first 100% Landlord Major Port

The PPP mode of investment in Indian ports has made a remarkable progress in the last 25 years, beginning from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNP), resulting in the capacity addition and productivity improvement. Now, JNP has become the first major port of the country to become 100% Landlord port having all berths being operated on PPP model. JNPA has placed Letter of Award (LOA) to J M Baxi Ports and Logistics Ltd. and consortium member CMA Terminals on 28.06.2022 and the concession agreement signed on 29.07.2022.The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Container Terminal (JNPCT) has 2 berths with total length of 680m and 15m draft which will be handed over under this PPP contract along with backup area of 54.74 hectares for 30 years. The concessioner has to upgrade, operate, maintain and transfer this terminal on PPP basis.

(viii)   Major Ports Exempted Ro-Pax/Passenger Ferries from paying Port and Vessel related Charges

In order to provide some respite to this sector from the impact of increase in price of marine fuel by the oil marketing companies, MoPSW has directed all Major Ports to exempt all berth hiring and vessel related charges being currently levied to the Ro-Pax/Passenger Ferries for the next six months with effect from July, 2022.

(ix)      Chabahar Day – In presence of Union Minister of PS&W

Ministry in association with India Ports Global observed ‘Chabahar Day’ on 30.07.2022 to promote Chabahar Port operated by IPGL as a link to International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) - Connecting Central Asian Markets in Mumbai. During the event, the delegates from the Central Asian countries highlighted how Chabahar link with INSTC can play a vital role in boosting EXIM trade in their regions and its potential to further boost development in the landlocked countries. During the day-long event, several presentations and Government to Business sessions took place.

(x)       Union Minister’s visit to Iran

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush visited Shahid Behestti port at Chabahar in Iran on 20.08.2022 to review the progress in the development of the port. Union Minister also handed over Six mobile harbour cranes to Indian Ports Global Chabahar Free Trade Zone (IPGCFTZ) at the Chabahar port to improve the cargo handling capacity of the port. The Union Minister was accompanied by the India’s Ambassador to Iran.

(xi)      Inauguration & Foundation stone laid by Union Minister

On 14.08.2022 the Union Minister of PS&W laid the foundation stones for two Sewage Treatment Plants at the Chennai port in order to champion the cause of sustainable growth. The combined capacity of these two plants is pegged at 130 Kilo Litres per Day (KLD), with one at 90 KLD& other at 40 KLD capacity. The water generated through these plants will be used within the Port reducing its dependence on usage of fresh water. A new Drive through Container Scanner was inaugurated by the Union Minister to drive up economies of scale and boost business and trade.

(xii)    Inauguration / Foundation Stone laying of NMP Projects by PM

Prime Minister, during his visit to New Mangalore Port (NMP) on 2nd Sept 2022, inaugurated/laid foundation stone for 6 projects worth Rs.1277 crore. The project ‘Mechanization of container handling and other cargo at Berth No.14 on DBFOT basis’ was inaugurated. Foundation stone was laid for setting up of 4 storage tank farms for edible oil, LPG, bitumen and construction of fisheries harbour at Kulai during visit.

(xiii)   Projects worth Rs. 231.21 Crore unveiled in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu

Union Minister (PS&W) unveiled projects worth Rs.231.21 crore, on 30th September, 2022 at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. Foundation stone for the Tuticorin SPEEDZ (Coastal Employment Unit) land for development of Port-based Industries, spanning 1300 acres, worth Rs. 100 crore and Inner Harbour development works (Widening the Port Entrance and dredging the widened portion) costing Rs. 65.53 Crore were laid. Upgraded Coal Yard Road and Drainage System, costing Rs.16 Crore, Fixed Fire Fighting System at Oil Jetty costing Rs. 18.79 Crore and Strengthened 22 KV HT Electrical Network costing Rs. 1.15 Crore were inaugurated.

(xiv)   Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar campaign

All Major Ports actively participated and organized awareness activities under Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar campaign involving events like Cleaning Drive at Beaches, along Coastal Roads, Port premises etc.  Significant amount of plastic wastes and other litter were collected as a part of campaign.

(xv)     Foundation stone by  President of India

The President laid the foundation stone of four Projects worth more than Rs.280 crore of Deendayal Port, Kandla, Gujarat on 03.10.2022. These Projects will enhance Port Infrastructure along with boosting its Logistics performance as well as the overall Economic Growth for its entire hinterland. These projects will also improve the cargo handling capacity of the port along with further improvement in the turnaround time of the Ships and faster evacuation of the cargo.

(xvi)   Emergency Department at Paradip Hospital

A well equipped “Emergency Department” at Paradip Port Hospital was inaugurated by the Chairman of Paradip Port. All the staff, including doctor will be available 24X7 at one place to attend the critical patients.

(xvii)  Prime Minister visit to Visakhapatnam

Prime Minister visited Visakhapatnam on 12.11.2022 for laying the foundation stone and inauguration of several projects worth of Rs.10,742 crore and to dedicate the same to the Nation. In this context, Hon’ble Prime Minister laid foundation stone to Port road from Convent Junction to Sheela Nagar worth Rs. 566 crore and Modernization, up-gradation of Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour with Rs. 152 crore.

(xviii) PM Gati Shakti Multimodal Maritime Summit 2022

Union Minister of State, MoPSW attended the PM Gati Shakti Multimodal Maritime Summit 2022 on 23.11.2022 at Kolkata, organized by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port to highlight the need of transformation in Maritime & Logistics Industry. The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan has ensured efficient logistics and cost reduction for the first and last mile connectivity. Visakhapatnam Port also organized PM Gati Shakti Maritime Summit-2022 on 22.11.2022 and 23.11.2022

(xix)   Port Performance

The traffic handled at Major Ports during the period “April to November” has increased by 8.78% in the current financial year (FY 2022-23) as compared to the same period last year. It has gone up from 466.19 million Tonnes last year to 507.12 million Tonnes this year.

(xx)     Container handling

In terms of container traffic, 39,29,735 TEUs were handled at JNPA during the April to November, 2022 which is 7.59% higher as against 36,52,474 TEUs handled in April to November, 2021. During November, 2022, JNPA handled 559 container rakes and 79,765 TEUs as compared to 515 rakes and 80,704 TEUs in November 2021. During April to November, 2022, JNPA handled 4,352 container rakes and 674,243 TEUs as compared to 4,133 rakes and 651,654 TEUs during corresponding period in previous financial year.

INLAND WATER TRANSPORT

(i)        Inauguration of new Projects by Union Minister- PSW

• MV Lal Bahadur Shastri carrying food grains of FCI was flagged off from Patna to Pandu by Union Minister of MoPSW& Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on 5th February, 2022.
• In order to promote the use of IWT, Union Minister of PS&W also flagged off MV Ram Prasad Bismil with Dumb Barge APJ Abdul Kalam & Kalpana Chawla loaded with 1798.27 MT of rime TMT Bars of M/s. Tata Steel Limited on 16th February, 2022 at Haldia Dock Complex.
• Union Minister of PSW&A flagged off the voyage of bulk cargo (Gypsum) by M.V. Dristi from IFFCO Riverine Jetty to Paradip Port for further mobilisation of Gypsum to various destinations of India.

Ø Inauguration of Tourist Jetty at Bogibeel Riverfront (Railways) and Unveiling of Foundation Stone for Construction of Floating Jetties at Bogibeel&Guijan on NW-2 (IWAI) was held in the presence of Union Minister PS&W on 19th September 2022 at Bogibeel, Dibrugarh, Assam.

• Work for construction of floating and conventional community jetties started on river Ganga during 2022. This will give access to the population living close to the river for cross-river transport.

(ii)       Stakeholder Conclave

            The Waterways Conclave was held at Dibrugarh on 11th & 12th April, 2022. The event was attended by Union Minister of PSW, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam and other Dignitaries.

(iii)     India International Cruise Conference 2022

            The 1st Incredible India International Cruise Conference 2022 was organized by at Mumbai on 14-15 May, 2022. The Sessions relating to Potential of River Cruising was organized by IWAI wherein leading cruise operators had participated. They have shown keen interest in harnessing the potential of river cruise tourism in India, which is in nascent stage. MoUs were also signed with M/s. Heritage River Journeys Pvt. Ltd., M/s. Antara River Cruise and M/s. J.M. Baxi& Co.

(iv)      PM GatiShakti Multimodal Waterway Connectivity Summit

            PM GatiShakti Multimodal Waterway Connectivity Summit held in Varanasi from 11th -12th November 2022 attended by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (PSW), Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, Union Minister of Commerce,  Ministers- PSW. This summit focussed on creating more awareness about the PMGatiShakti and 07 community jetties were inaugurated, and foundation stones laid for 08 community jetties on the Ganga.

(v)       Signing of MoUs

Ø MoU signed between IWAI & Ultratech Cement on 06.06.2022 for Movement of Cargo (Gypsum) from Paradip Fertilizer unit of IFFCO, on National Waterway–5, National Waterway-64 to Cement Plants situated along the banks of National Waterway–1, in Bihar and West Bengal.

• MoU signed for construction of electric powered Catamarans with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) during PM GatiShakti Multimodal Waterway Connectivity Summit held in Varanasi from 11th -12th November 2022.

(vi)      Movement of Cargo/Cruise on National Waterways

Ø The Cargo movement on National Waterways achieved all time high of 108.79 Million Ton from April 2021- March 2022 against 83.61 Million ton last year for the same period recording 30.12 % growth. The Cargo movement on National Waterways for April to September, 2022 recorded as 60.25 Million Ton (an increase of 30 % as compared to Apr to Sep 2021 of 46.34 million).

Ø Tourist Vessel MV Rajmahal of M/s Assam Bengal Navigation Co. Pvt. Ltd. have completed its voyages successfully carrying foreign tourists from Kolkata - Patna - Varanasi and return on NW-1 during Aug- Sep. 2022.

(vii)    Inland Vessels Act, 2021

            The Rules under the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 were drafted and notified to start a unified regime of inland vessel registration, certification and specifications through the country, instead of State-wise regulations under the previous Inland Vessels Act, 1917.

SHIPPING SECTOR

(i)        Make in India

            In pursuance of the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017 notified vide Department For Promotion of Industry And Internal Trade (DPIIT) Notification No. 45021/2/2017-PP(B.E.II) dated 15.06.2017, 28.05.2018 and 16.09.2020, revised notifications were issued by this Ministry on 17.09.2021 on following subjects:

Ø To encourage ‘Make in India’ and to promote manufacturing and production of goods and services in India to enhance income and employment, Ministry notified certain items as shipbuilding items being manufactured / assembled in India under license from a foreign manufacturer holding intellectual property rights and where there is technology transfer agreement.

Ø To encourage ‘Make in India’ and to promote manufacturing and production of goods and services in India to enhance income and employment, Ministry notified certain items in shipbuilding as items where there is sufficient local capacity and where public procurement is to be carried out only from class-I local suppliers.

(ii)       SOP for charter of tugs by Major Ports

            In continuation of the issued SOP for charter of tugs by Major Ports under Atmanirbhar Abhiyan Policy, the Approved Standardized Tug Design & Specification(ASTDS) were published on the website of IPA in FY 2021-22.

(iii)     Amendment of Guidelines regarding financial assistance policy

            Guidelines regarding financial assistance policy were amended in December, 2021 to include "Self-Propelled Dredgers (Classified by the IACS members)" in Scheduled-II (List of Specialized Vessels) of SBFAP guidelines .

(iv)      SOP for Procurement of Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels

            SOP issued on 08.02.2021 for Procurement of Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels to assist the state fisheries departments in expeditious implementation of PMMSY. Three design versions of Fishing vessels for PMMSY scheme were formulated and sent to D/o Fisheries.

(v)       All Women Officers’ Sailing 2.0 on M.T. Swarna Godavari

            Celebrating the Inaugural IMO International Day for Women in Maritime, SCI achieved another feat of all Women Merchant Officers’ Fleet on m.t. Swarna Godavari. The vessel was flagged off from JawaharDweep oil terminal, Mumbai on 14th May, 2022 by the Union Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs and Union Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Smt. MeenakashiLekhi as Chief Guest. This is the second of the exemplary voyages (earlier M.T. Swarna Krishna) that SCI has sailed towards promoting diversity and inclusivity in the Indian Shipping Industry while making global footprints.

(vi)      Participation in the 12th Fleet Review by  President of India

            SCI’s two owned vessels M.T. Swarna Sindhu and M.V. SCI Sabarmati have participated in the 12th Fleet Review along with Naval Fleet by President of India & Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces on 21st February, 2022 showcasing India’s maritime might off the Visakhapatnam coast in Andhra Pradesh.

(vii)    Dredging Corporation of India Limited

            The Major Ports with annual estimated maintenance dredging quantity of 80 million cubic meters are in requirement of higher hopper capacity dredger to augment the pace of dredging to maintain the design depth at Ports. Under AtmaNirbhar Bharat Scheme Dredging Corporation of India Ltd. (DCIL) has placed an order to Cochin Shipyard Ltd for procurement of Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) with 12000m3 Hopper Capacity at an estimated cost of Rs. 104.59 Million Euros with construction duration of 34 months.

(viii)   Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021

            The Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021 was passed by Lok Sabha on 22.03.2021 and by the Rajya Sabha on 27.07.2021. The Act was notified in the Official Gazette on 2nd August, 2021 after getting the President’s assent on 31.07.2021. The Act came into force from 31.03.2022. The Act replaces the old Lighthouse Act,1927 and incorporates the global best practices, technological developments and India's International obligations in the field of Marine Aids to Navigation. The new Act will facilitate harmonized and effective functioning of aids to marine navigation and Vessel Traffic Services along the Indian coastline.

(ix)      Establishment of new of Lighthouses

            To enhance the safety of mariners and fishermen and to provide seamless coverage along the Indian Coast, two Lighthouses have been established. Minister for PSW, inaugurated two new Lighthouses at Dhanuskhodi (Tamil Nadu) and Kelshi (Maharashtra) on 14th May, 2022 through video conferencing during the Incredible India International Cruise Conference held on 14-15 May, 2022 at Mumbai.

(x)       Start-up program in Maritime sector – MOU between CSL and IIT (Madras)

            Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) signed an agreement on 06.11.2022 to support start-ups in the maritime sector. IIT Madras will act as one of the implementation partners of this initiative and will provide incubation, mentorship, training to start-ups selected under this program. This is part of the start-up engagement program ‘USHUS’, launched by CSL to augment the Government of India's initiatives to encourage and develop an ecosystem in India for supporting Maritime Start-ups from the technical, regulatory, financial, and marketing points of view by bringing the stakeholders together. This program is expected to provide a platform for young and talented entrepreneurs to develop products/services in the marine space with financial support provided by CSL. Under this initiative, start-ups can get upto Rs.50 lakhs as seed grants, Rs.1 crore as prototyping grants and equity funding for start-ups at the scale up stage.

(xi)      Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited

            Union Minister of Port, Shipping and Waterways & AYUSH dedicated the newly built State-of-the-Art ship building facility of Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited at Nazirgunge, Howrah, West Bengal to the nation on 16 August 2022. The Rs. 180 Crore facility, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Ltd, a PSE under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways was dedicated to the nation by the Union Minister of PSW and AYUSH in the presence of Minister of State of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

(xii)    Delivery of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) “Vikrant” by CSL to Indian Navy

            CSL has created maritime history on 28.07.2022 by delivering of the prestigious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) ‘Vikrant to Indian Navy. The vessel designed by Indian Navy's inhouse Directorate of Naval Design (DND) and built by CSL at an overall cost of Rs. 20000 crore, the carrier is christened after illustrious predecessor, India's first Aircraft Carrier which played a vital role in the 1971 war. The 262 mtr long carrier has a full displacement of close to 45,000 tonnes which is much larger and advanced than her predecessor. The ship is powered by four Gas Turbines totalling 88 MW power and has a maximum speed of 28 Knots. With the delivery of Vikrant, India has joined a select group of nations having the niche capability to indigenously design and build an Aircraft Carrier.

(xiii)   Delivery of 2nd 500 PAX vessel of A&N Administration by CSL

            The second 500 PAX vessel of Andaman and Nicobar Administration M.V. Nalanda was delivered on 05.07.2022. The vessel built at Cochin Shipyard Ltd, Kochi.  Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) as Technical Manager was actively involved during the shipbuilding process and further the Operation and Management (O&M) will also be done by SCI. M.V. Nalanda sailed on its maiden voyage from Kochi anchorage on 22.07.2022 at 06:30 hrs and reached Port Blair on 26.07.2022.

Visit of Shri Sudhansh Pant, IAS, Hon'ble OSD, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, GoI to Paradip Port Authority.

Shri Sudhansh Pant, IAS, Hon'ble OSD, for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, GoI made his maiden visit to Paradip Port Authority as part of the regular review on 15^th December 2022. He was extended a very warm welcome by Shri P. L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA and Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPA at Jawahar Guest House. Today on arrival at Wet Basin, he was accorded Guard of Honour by the CISF, PPA contingent Thereafter, he visited the Signal Station and conducted an inspection of the Port infrastructure and modernization project at Paradip Port during Harbour visit. Further, Shri Pant visited to Mahanadi confluence and Iffco jetty by VIP launch and examined the prospects new Riverine Port. In the afternoon, he inaugurated new MCHP control room. He also visited to MCHP Rail Receival Station, JSW Iron Ore Tippler facility, PEQCT coal unloading hopper & KICT Silo to get an idea about actual Port operations.

On arrival at PPA  Administrative Building in the evening,Shri Pant was accorded traditional welcome. He inaugurated the Mannad Manthan - the new Board Room of PPA and interacted with Sr. Officials regarding the prospective future Mega Port.

PPA Clocks another significant Milestone.

Paradip Port achieved another milestone by handling highest ever cargo traffic of 6,49,730 Metric Tonnes in a single day on 14th December 2022. While congratulating Team PPA on this stupendous performance, Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPA has also offered his heartfelt thanks to all Stakeholders for their constant support and immense contribution.

This is to be noted that after dredging of northern dock, recently, Paradip Port had successfully berthed MV Golden Barnet, a Cape vessel of 16.20 mtr draft carrying 1,46,554 Tonnes of Coking Coal at KICT Berth.

As the Port Is vying for the coveted 125 MMT Cargo Handling mark in the current fiscal,  it urges the Stakeholders to take advantage of Cape handling facilities in Paradip Port to achieve better efficiency and economies of scale.

International Day of Persons With Disabilities observed by PPA.

Paradip Port Authority organised an event at the local Jagruty School on the occasion of International Day of Persons With Disabilities. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Dr. P N Bahekar, Secretary, PPA, Shri Alekh Sahoo, DC, PPA and Shri Sriman Narayan Mishra, DTM, PPA as well as Secretary Jagruty  saluted the spirit of determination of the school children and mentioned that PPA would take necessary steps within its ambit for the all-round development of the school. He also emphasized on society to come forth for helping these schools, apart from Govt. grants.  Guest of Honour Shri Alekh Sahoo, DC lauded activities of the students.

         Thereafter, Secretary, PPA gave away prizes to winners of different competitions held among school children of Jagruty. He distributed gifts to the differently-abled employees of Paradip Port Authority as well as Children of Jagruty. Paradip Ladies Club led the donations followed by Port Users, HODs and other eminent persons from the locality towards development of Jagruty. School faculties were also felicitated on the occasion. Madam Lita Mohanty, Principal, Jagruty, presented the Annual report of Jagruty. The differently abled children of Jagruty presented Cultural activities.  Shri N K Patnaik, Sr. Welfare Officer, PPA compered the programme and Shri Rama Chandra Pradhan, Welfare  Officer, PPA extended vote of thanks.

Observation of World Pollution Prevention Week.

Observance of World Pollution Prevention week today kicked off at Paradip Port Authority with a Mock Drill on Oil Pollution Prevention was conducted under the supervision of Capt. AC Sahoo, Dy. Conservator and other senior operational staff of the Marine Department. In order to make the student community aware about Green Shipping, Cadets & Staff of Orissa Maritime Academy were also among the participants. First of all the cadets of Orissa Maritime Academy were taught about different types of Pollutions. Then, the students were imparted knowledge  about different types of Oil Pollutions like Tier-I, Tier-II etc. and their prevention. The students then were shown different types of Oil Spill Response Equipment like Oil Containment Booms, Skimmers, Boom Reels, OSDs, Fast Tanks, Sorbent Pads etc.   Finally, a Mock Drill was carried out on Oil Pollution Prevention on Oil Spill Response vessel MT Ocean Elegance and Pollution Control Vessel ML KALI.

The World AIDS Day -2022 was observed at PPA Hospital.

The World AIDS Day was observed at PPA Hospital with the theme "putting ourselves to test: achieving equality to end HIV and discrimination”. On this occasion, a walkathon as a part of IEC activity was organised to create awareness about AIDS among the denizens of the Port Township starting at PPA Hospital and ending at the Officers Club. Smt. Suchismita Bose, Vice-President, Paradip Ladies Club flagged off the Wakathon. The doctors, paramedical staff of the PPA Hospital along with HoDs of the PPA, CISF personnel, Volunteers of Paradip Sakshyrata Samiti, volunteers of NGOs (IRDMS & CASD)  working on AIDS, transgenders, and general public participated with enthusiasm. The walkathon culminated at Officers Club. All the staff of PPA Hospital, Saksharata Samiti and Volunteers wore symbolic red ribbon to commemorate the occasion.

 Further, a screening camp for Truckers was organised at Gate No. 3 in association with CASD/IRDMS. By the time of reporting 105 people were screened, and none was found positive for AIDS. The test kits were provided by OSACS. PPA HOSPITAL regularly screens for HIV/AIDS as an obligation under the MOU, "Mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS at Major Ports" signed with NACO, MoHFW.

Curtains fell down on 22nd All India Major Port Cultural Meet 2022-23.

The four day 22nd All India Major Port Cultural Meet 2022-23 being held at Jayadev Sadan finally came to an end last evening. Paradip Port Authority along with Major Ports Sports Control Board successfully organised the Cultural Extravaganza.  Gracing the valedictory function as Chief Guest, Shri AK Bose, Dy. Chairman said that the Cultural Meet has reflected Unity in Diversity of Indian culture. Individual Ports, participating in the cultural meet reflected the rich culture of their respective States, they represented, in their performances.  Shri K. J .Patel, Unit Head, IFFCO and Smt. Suchismita Bose, Vice President, Paradip Ladies Club were Guests of honour. Around 200 participants from 9 Major Ports across the country participated in the cultural meet. Team PPA was crowned as the overall Champion. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port won the Runners-up and Mumbai Port Authority won the 2^nd  Runners-up award. In playlet category, PPA was adjudged the Best Production team, Shri Bikram Parida of PPA bagged the Best Actor and Biranchi of PPA won the supporting Artist (Male) award. Shri D.N. Sondhi, Chairman, Organising Committee presided over the  proceedings. Shri Deepak Rath, Vice Chairman Dr.D.P.Sethi, Secretary Shri Ranjan Rashmi Beura, Jt. Secretary of Organising Committee were also present. Shri Sriman Narayan Mishra, DTM, PPA compeered the programme.

22nd All India Major Port Cultural Meet 2022-23 begins at Jayadev Sadan, PPA.

PM Gati –Shakti Multimodal Maritime Summit held at Bhubaneswar.

                                                                     Odisha has strategic potential for growing to Coastal Shipping Hub-Chief Secretary 

                                                                            PPA on its path towards Port of the Millenium during the Amrit Kal

Bhubaneswar, 15 Nov 2022

A two day Summit on Prime Minister Gati-Shakti Multimodal Maritime was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar today under the joint aegis of Paradip Port Authority, State and Central Government. Addressing the Summit as Chief Guest, Chief Secretary Sri Suresh Chandra Mahapatra said, “Odisha is a maritime State, and has strategic location for coastal shipping.  Our Coastal line is quite suitable for development of deep Ports. Eastern part of India including Odisha is growing at a fast rate.  Odisha is supplying Thermal Coal, Iron Ore and Manganese to a large number of States in India. The growth rate will be faster in coming years”. 

            Sri Mahapatra added, “The PM Gati-Shakti is a Pan Indian platform that would address to the critical issues of reducing logistic cost of mineral transport substantially, and would accelerate the growth of Coastal Shipping. It is a comprehensive and converged platform of all the related departments in both State and Central Government along with other major Stakeholders”.  With uploading of information by all concerned, the planning and decision making for the Sector would be more perfect and faster. It would also bring the real ease of doing business for the investors.   Sri Mahapatra opined, Odisha would soon become one of the biggest hubs in Coastal Shipping of the minerals and finished products. Sri Mahapatra assured that State Government would extend all help for implementation of the recommendations of this two day Summit.

            Joining the inaugural session as Guest of honour, Divisional Railway Manager Sri Rinkesh Roy said, “East cost railway is No-1 frieght loading zone in the entire Railways. Paradip is the 2^nd largest Port in terms of the volume handled through Rail link network. The region has huge Mining and Industrial belt”. He said that East Coast railway was on its path for augmentation of its  Rail-network in Odisha from Mining and Industrial  points to the Port.

          Addressing the Summit, Joint Secretary Sagarmala Projects of Govt of India  Sri Bhusan Kumar  gave a blue print of the converged mechanism put in place for successful implementation of Gati Shakti projects. He said that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways prioritized improvement of connectivity to more than 50 plus non-major operative Ports through PM Gati Shakti. In this comprehensive port connectivity plan, more than 107 connectivity gaps were  identified for abridging port connectivity.

            Shri Jayant Singh, Vice Chairman, IWAI said “Inland waterways is the low hanging fruit in seamless multimodal transportation.  Odisha with its long stretches of water mass across different regions posses immense potential for development of Inland waterways.  

            Chairman Paradip Port Authority Shri P.L. Haranadh said, that Paradip Port in its 56 years of  Cargo handling service would  attain a record 125 MMT annual traffic in FY 2022-23. He added, “During the Amrit Kal, Paradip will be the Port of the Millennium by having a capacity of more than 500 MMT by 2047”.  PM Gati-Shakti would be the prime mover of this transformation. He stressed the need to augment capacity of Rail, Road and Waterways to match the capacity augmentation plans of Paradip port. Deputy Chairman Paradip Port Authority Sri A.K. Bose presented the past, present and future prospects of Paradip Port and offered the vote of thanks.

            The inaugural session was followed by two technical sessions namely Gati-Shakti platform- Creating synergy among departments; and, Potential opportunities in logistic eco-system for sustainable Industrial development.. The veteran subject experts from Container Corporation of India, Ministry of Commerce and Transport Government of India, Commissionerate of Customs, Steel Authority of India, Tata Steels, Mahanadi Coal Field, JM Baxi, IFFCO, Samsara Shipping led the deliberations in these two sessions.

PPA bags "Best Port of the Year - East Coast" Award at 9th International Samudra Manthan Awards.

 In the 9th International Samudra Manthan Awards 2022 held recently at Domestic Cruise Terminal, Mumbai to honour Maritime Excellence,

          Paradip Port Authority was adjudged as 'Major Port of the Year - East Coast' by the jury members in recognition of its exceptional services to Maritime Trade. On behalf of Paradip Port Authority, Shri Akshaya Kumar Sahoo, Sr. DTM, received the award.

          Congratulating Team PPA, Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPA has said that the award stands testimony to PPA’s  relentless efforts to conquer new frontiers in operational excellence across the Port Industry.

Valedictory function of Vigilance Awareness Week held at Paradip Port.

The valedictory function of observance of the weeklong Vigilance Awareness Week by Paradip Port Authority was held at Jayadev Sadan in the evening on 9th November, 2022. Shri P.P.Saha, Dy. CVO, Paradip Port Authority, while welcoming the guests, informed about the programmes undertaken by Vigilance Dept. of PPA for observation of Vigilance Awareness Week at Paradip Port.

Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest Shri P.L. Haranadh said that, Vigilance is an important organ of any organisation. Intelligence and Integrity are important parts of  social capital, which contributes to the overall economic development. If we want to enjoy the fruits of democracy, we must curb corruption. System improvement is important part of preventive intelligence. It is envisage in Maritime vision to simplify existing procedures, systems, rules, regulations and procedures. Proceedings and procedures in corruption cases need to be completed in a time bound manner. Transparency can be further strengthened with digitalisation. To grow up in the corruption perception index, we must inculcate integrity in the young minds of our children.
          Guest of Honour of the occasion Shri A.K.Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPA said that preventive vigilance must be practiced in our day to day work arenas. Integrity should be made an important aspect of our lives. Dr. P.N. Bahekar, Secretary, PPA also spoke on the occasion.

Port Day was observed at PPA.

The Port Day was observed on the auspicious day of Kartik Purnima by the Paradip Port Authority on 8^th November 2022 as being done every year.

On this occasion, Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Authority attended the function as Chief Guest and unfurled the Paradip Port Flag at Wet Basin in the morning. He handed over the sacred Kalas to the Sadhavas who set sail on board a traditionally decorated boat. He also inspected the Port Marine crafts lined up in the Harbour and took salute.

Thereafter Dy. Conservator, Paradip Port Capt. A.C. Sahoo welcomed the guests in the meeting and explained the importance of Port Day celebration.

Extending his greetings to the gathering on the auspicious occasion of Kartika Purnima, Shri Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Authority outlined the tremendous rise of the Port in recent times banking on four Pillars. First of all is the capacity expansion and the port is marching ahead to clock 125 MMT Cargo Handling mark in the current fiscal. Within next 2 years around 100 MMT Capacity projects will be awarded and thus by the Port will become India’s largest capacity Port. The Port will become 500 MMT Mega Port by 2047. Under PM Gati Shakti Masterplan, Port connectivity projects like Rail, Road, Waterways, Conveyor and Pipeline will get a massive boost in synergy with the State and Central Govt. machinery. It will become a Smart Digital Port by 2025. Advance Gate Management System will be in place within a year. Under green Port initiative 1,07,000 saplings have been planted in this year till date and by 2025  we are aiming for 1 Million plantation in the vicinity.  Recently we have inaugurated three Mechanised Road Sweeping Machines. Our township sewerage system has been recently connected with the STPs resulting in 0 discharge of waste water to nearby natural streams. 1 emergency ward has been inaugurated at PPA Hospital for providing critical care to the patients in need by dedicated team. For heart ailments, burn injuries and trauma care, PPA Board has recently approved Rs.30 crores fund for establishing a modern Hospital and the Management is trying to identify the place and execute the modalities at the earliest.

Guest of Honour Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPA lauded the efforts of Marine Department for enabling the Port to consistently surpass the coveted 100 MMT mark in cargo handling for the last two years. He also mentioned how MoPSW has highlighted Port’s STP project as one of the Best Practices during recently concluded Special Campaign 2.0        

            Dr. P.N. Bahekar, Secretary, PPA offered the Vote of Thanks.

Cancer Screening Camp for Women at PPA Hospital.

  Ladies Club, Paradip in association with the Paradip Port Authority Hospital, HCG Panda Cancer Hospital, Cuttack and Utkal Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. Bhubaneswar organized a "Cancer     Screening Camp for Women" today. Smt. P. Girija Sundari, President, Ladies Club, Paradip inaugurated the camp in presence of Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA, Shri A.K. Bose, Dy.   Chairman, Smt. Suchismita Bose, Vice President, Ladies Club, Paradip and other Sr. Officials of PPA and members of Ladies Club. Local women were sensitized about the causes of   breast  as well as cervical cancer, the need of eradicating the social stigma, importance of self-examination for early detection of breast cancer, its symptoms, methods of diagnosis and   treatment etc. 73 nos. of women were examined on the occasion. 18 nos. of PAP Smear were collected for microscopic examination. 2 nos. with abnormality in cervix were referred to   Higher Centre for further evaluation. Shri Haranadh, Chairman, PPA has declared assistance to the ladies to get evaluated at Higher Centre. Speaking on the occasion, the President   Ladies Club assured help to the marginalized sections of women in the society with more such camps in future. Timely noble step of Ladies Club, Paradip & Paradip Port Authority was   welcomed by the denizens of the Paradip Port Township.

PPA observes Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.

Vigilance Awareness Week begins at PPA.

As per the directions from Central Vigilance Commission, Paradip Port Trust is observing Vigilance Awareness Week from 31^st October to 6^th November 2022. Centered on the theme “Corruption free India for a developed Nation”, the week-long function started with flagging off a walkathon by Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman from Paradip Bus Stand, which culminated at PPA Administrative building and in which denizens of Paradip eagerly participated. Later on, Shri Haranadh administered integrity pledge to the employees. Following the pledge, a spot quiz contest on vigilance knowledge was held among the employees. Then he flagged off a “Satarkata Rath” to promote Vigilance awareness.

During week long celebrations of Vigilance Awareness Week, elocation , essay and drawing competitions among the local school students and other activities related to Vigilance Awareness are scheduled. PPA employees are also taking integrity e-pledge through PPA Website and the Website of CVC. Each department of PPA is also conducting stakeholders meet during the week for awareness on corruption issues relating to the functioning of their particular departments. Several Hoardings have been displayed in the locality for creating awareness among the public. 

Special Campaign 2.0 at PPA.

Tripatrite Agreement signed for transfer of Mobile X-Ray Scanner to Customs Authority

Under Ease of Doing Business, Paradip Port Authority (PPA) has installed a Mobile X-Ray Container Scanner (MXCS) at a cost of Rs. 29.68 Cr. adjacent to Paradip International Container Terminal Pvt. Ltd. (PICTPL) for the purpose of reducing the need for manual inspection of containers and to help in checking for threats such as explosives, narcotics, weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), contraband and dwell time of containers. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) have given license to the local Customs Commissionerate for regular use of the MXCS under the guidance of AERB trained Radiological Safety Officers (RSOs) of PPA.

To facilitate transfer of Mobile X-Ray Scanner to Customs Authority, a tripartite agreement has been signed on 28.10.2022 between the Paradip Port Authority, Paradip Customs Division and M/s. Smiths Detection (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd. in the Board Room of PPA between Shri Tarun Kumar Panda, IRS, Dy.Commissioner, Customs Division, Paradip, Shri Vikrant Trilokekar,MD, Smith Detection Pvt.Ltd.&  Shri G.Edison, TM, PPA in the presence of Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, Shri A.K.Bose,Deputy Chairman and other Senior Officers of the Port.

                                                           Chairman, PPA urged upon all the Port Users to take advantage of the facility for improving the cargo throughput.

MoPSW best practices to Institutionalise Swachata and Pendency Removal Under the Special Campaign 2.0 .

                                                       Focus is on removing pendency and improving efficiency with more transparency.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has taken a number of initiatives under the ‘Special campaign for Disposal of Pending matters’ (SCDPM 2.0) of GoI. MoPSW has identified removing pendency and improving cleanliness as the key focus areas, which will result in better record management, improve work efficiencies, enhance transparency and contribute towards a sustainable future. Steps are being taken for maintenance of the government files and getting rid of the obsolete ones. In other words, record management activities of the government offices are to be improved under Special Campaign 2.0. Special emphasis is also on the e file record management under the amended Manual of Office Procedure.  

Special Campaign 2.0 seeks to institutionalize Swachata and removal of pendency not only as one time best practices, but imbibing them as a matter of habit in the day to day functioning. In this phase, the number of campaign sites have been identified to include the remotest sites and offices that have the highest public interference in the country.

As stipulated in the SCDPM 2.0 guidelines, special focus is on field/outstation offices in addition to the Ministries/Departments and their attached/subordinate offices.  All the major ports and subordinate/attached offices of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways are undertaking various efforts to remove pendency and improve cleanliness in their offices and their office compounds. 

Under the ongoing activities the Paradip Port has disposed-off 900 tons of scrap till now which has generated revenue of ₹4.3 crore. They have repaired the old furniture and have donated them in schools. Also, by demolishing old buildings at the port premises port has got half acre of land which will be used for future purposes. Apart from this, they have also set-up an emergency ward in the hospital which will be inaugurated on 31st October,2022. Considering today’s need, they have appointed an Ayurveda doctor as well.

The activities undertaken by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), and its various organisations under Swachata Campaign 2.0 in line with the basic spirit of the SCDPM 2.0 Campaign primarily aiming to achieve the objective of efficiency, ease of doing business and better and faster decision making by decluttering working place as well as getting rid of archaic rules and regulations.  These are necessary pre requisites for making ready and launching India and the Maritime Sector onto the path of progress in the Amrit Kaal thereby enabling citizens to reap rich dividends.                                                                                                                

Three more Mechanised Road Sweeping Machines inaugurated at PPA during Special Campaign 2.0.

  Keeping the momentum of ongoing Special Campaign 2.0 three more new  Mechanised Road Sweeping Machines have been inaugurated at PPA by Shri P. L. Haranadh, Chairman in       presence of Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman and other HoDs and Dy. HoDs. These machines have been manufactured by M/S. TPS Infrastructure Limited, New Delhi with Make in India concept.   These machines will upkeep the arterial and sub-arterial roads of Port Township neat and clean.

          Interactive with Media on the occasion Shri Haranadh said that the Special Campaign 2.0 is continuing at PPA since Gandhi Jayanti and will culminate on 31^st October. During the   campaign period special focus is being laid on disposal of pending matters, scrap disposal cleanliness. The newly commissioned Road Sweeping machines will impact the cleanness &   hygienic of the Port Area. Our STPs are getting connected from the drains of Port township. Hence waste water will not flow to the nearby natural streams. PPA will continue its journey  to     remain in the forefront for providing clean environment to the local populace.

Extending Ayurvedic treatment & Yoga to the Beneficiaries of the Paradip Port Authority.

In pursuance to the directives of Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Govt. of India to provide Ayurvedic and other traditional system of medicines  to the beneficiaries of Paradip Port Authority, Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA has kindly approved to engage a part-time visiting Ayurvedic consultant at PPA Hospital.

Accordingly, Dr. Tapas Ranjan Sarangi, M.D (Ayurveda) has been engaged as part-time visiting consultant. He joined today i.e 11.10.2022 in the PPA Hospital. Apart from this, a Yoga Teacher, Sri Tapas Ranjan Pati has also been engaged to teach Yoga/Meditation to the beneficiaries of Paradip Port Authority twice a week.

Hence, preventive & curative treatment in the oldest traditional system of medicine, i.e. Ayurved is extended to the beneficiaries of Paradip Port Authority from 11.10.2022.  The Chairman, PPA has also approved to empanel Sri  College of Ayurvedic Science & Research Hospital, Sri Sri University, Cuttack. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in this regard will be signed shortly.

Thus, from today, i.e. 11.10.2022, the Paradip Port Authority has extended Ayurvedic treatment, the traditional system of medicine, and Yoga to its beneficiaries. This effort of PPA will immensely benefit the employees/pensioners/their dependents in providing preventive and curative treatment of a number of diseases, including those related to stress and strain, and lifestyle.  

Shri P.L. Haranadh took over the post of Chairman, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata

Shri P.L Haranadh, current Chairman of Paradip Port Authority  today took over the additional charge of Chairman, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata. He is an Indian Railway Traffic Service Officer of 1994 batch. He hails from Andhra Pradesh. He studied MSc & Ph.D from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi. During his 27 years of service, he worked in Indian Railways for 22 years and 5 years in Ministry of Shipping.
He has rich experience in rail transportation, especially in freight operations, business development and traffic planning.
In recognition of many meritorious works, he received National Award for outstanding management in 2002 and in 2005.
He also worked as Deputy Chairman of Visakhapatnam Port from 2015-2020. He was instrumental in developing innovative marketing solutions like total logistics solutions to customers to attract cargoes like coal, containers etc.
In his last one year stint as Chairman, PPA the Port crossed the coveted 100 Million Metric Tonne yearly Cargo Handling Mark successfully for 5th consecutive year. This year PPA aims to cross 125 MMT Cargo Handling Milestone. For improvement in Port connectivity, under P.M Gati Shakti the Foundation Stone of 2nd Exit Road-cum Flyover has been laid during his tenure. As a part of Vision India 2047, Paradip Port will evolve as a world class mega port with over 750 Million Tonnes Per Annum capacity by 2047. Shri Haranadh being at the helm of affairs, Paradip Port has been at the forefront in successfully completing several PPP projects worth over Rs.3000 crores recently, which led to capacity addition of 55 MTPA at Paradip. It is also noteworthy that the Port has recently awarded the Western Dock project of 25 MTPA capacity at a cost of Rs.2392 Crores. The 1st Phase of this project for 12.5 MTPA capacity will be completed in 3 years and the overall project in 5 years time. On completion, this will enable Paradip Port to have facilities to handle large Cape size vessels upto 18.5 meters draft.

Half-yearly progress and achievements in ‘Chintan Baithak’ by Sonowalji.

                                                                                                     Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

                        Shri Sarbananda Sonowal reviews Half-yearly progress and achievements in ‘Chintan Baithak’

                                   Port authorities should prepare land redevelopment plan for their ports to prepare them for future requirements of Businesses:

                                               Shri   Sarbananda Sonowal

     We should work towards achieving the goals of MIV 2030 earnestly and aim towards realizing the Vision for 2047 to fullfill the dreams of our  Prime Minister:                                                                             Shri Sarbananda Sonowal

                                                                                 Posted On: 29 SEP 2022 4:34PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways  Shri Sarbananda Sonowal chaired the ‘Chintan Baithak' of the Ministry in Delhi, today. The baithak was attended by all the senior officials of the Ministry along with Chairpersons of all Major Ports and top officials of the other organization under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). The agenda of this meeting was to know the status of various initiatives and programs of the Government of India like Asset Monetization; National Infrastructure Pipeline; implementation of the innovative projects identified by each port during the previous Chintan Baithaks; automation of all weighbridges in ports and to know the status of capital expenditure during this fiscal. During the meeting Shri Sonowal highlighted the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to develop and promote the Blue Economy.

It was discussed that Ministry should achieve the Capital Expenditure targets so as to meet the overall expenditure targets of the Government. All major ports should also lay special emphasis on optimum utilization of their available land and should prepare a futuristic development plan to cater the forthcoming needs of this business and prepare them for the future requirements and investments.

It was also deliberated during the meeting that as all the Ports have taken a number of initiatives to promote green ecosystem in maritime sector, the emphasis should be on promoting Green Shipping and reducing the carbon footprint from the port operations. The various green port initiatives include developing shore reception facility for wastes from ships, setting up projects for energy generation from renewable energy sources, providing shore power to ships at berths, creating Oil Spill Response (Tier-1) capabilities at all ports, inclusion of sustainable practices in terminal design, development and operation, increasing green cover within port premises etc. 

During the meeting  Shri Sonowal said that, ‘the extensive discussions during this Chintan Meeting are linked with the Maritime Vision 2030 and Vision document 2047 to fulfil the  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of ' Atmanirbhar Bharat' with his key mantra of 'Reform, Perform & Transform’. He also expressed that “As we aim for setting-up of world-class infrastructure facilities at ports, the performance of our ports are improving.  This will go a long way in preparing the roadmap for smooth & swift implementation of our plan to develop & modernize our ports and implement the Port Led Development vision of our  Prime Minister.

He reviewed the progress of the various projects of each Major port, discussed during the previous Chintan Baithak and directed all port authorities to keep an eye on the ongoing projects at the ports for timely delivery. 

Shri Sonowal emphasized that “Our role as a ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, should be to empower and enable conduits through which these economic transformations can be achieved. Through this Chintan Baithak, the best minds of maritime sector have come together so that all of us can deliberate, discuss and decide various challenges and opportunities”.

Talking about special campaign from 2^nd October to 31 October, the Minister said, we should put all our efforts in supporting Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiated by PM. In this line we should keep port surroundings neat and clean as 'jahan swacchta, wahan prabhuta'. He added, pending matters should be disposed-off during this special campaign. He said, he will also appoint a committee to keep a check on Swachhta Abhiyaan. 

A detailed discussion on GeM procurement was also made during this Chintan Baithak. Senior officials shared their concerns and suggestions regarding purchase from GeM platform on which minister added that, ‘we will submit a proposal, so that GeM becomes seamless and more inclusive’.

Paradip Port observed the 45th World Maritime Day.

With the theme, “New Technologies for Greener Shipping”  Paradip Port observed the 45th World Maritime Day, today. It reflects the need to support a green transition of the Maritime Sector into a sustainable future, while leaving no one behind. Unlike National Maritime Day, there is no fixed date of celebration of World Maritime Day. But, generally it is celebrated on last week of September every year. It depends on the individual Governments to decide a suitable date for celebration during last week of September and DG Shipping, Govt. of India has decided and directed to celebrate World Maritime Day on 28th September 2022 in India for this year.

On this occasion, at PPA, Capt. A .C Sahu, Dy.Conservator  hoisted the World Maritime Day flag at the Marine Site office in presence of  HoDs of PPA, other Sr. Officials of Marine Dept. and students of Orissa Maritime Academy. Later on the students participated an awareness rally in the Port township.

In the evening a Seminar was held at Officers’ Club in which Shri Manas Beuria, Principal, Orissa Maritime Academy & Shri Babul Sikdar, Sr. Marine Engineer deliberated on the topic “New Technologies for Greener Shipping”  

The first celebration of World Maritime Day was done on 17 March 1978 to mark the occasion of enforcing first convention of IMO in 1958 and since then every year, during last week of September, the World Maritime Day is observed globally.

Blood Donation Camp, organised at PPA Hospital as part of Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav.

 As part of Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav, which commence on Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s birthday -17^th September, the Paradip Port Authority Hospital organised a voluntary Blood Donation Camp in collaboration with Vrishav Foundation Trust, Paradip in association with Blood Bank, Red Cross Society, Cuttack. Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPA inaugurated the Camp in presence of Smt.Suchismita Bose, the Vice-President, Paradip Ladies Club, Dr. P.Panda, CMO, PPA Hospital, other HoDs, Er. Gangadhar Sethi, President, Vrishav Foundation Trust and Senior Officials of PPA. 106 units of blood was collected from the camp. Denizens of Paradip including various industries, Port users, educational institute and voluntary organisations enthusiastically participated in the camp, which increase awareness about need of regular non-remunerated voluntary blood donations.

Public private partnerships increase access to capital, encourage innovation and help share risks. – Shri Shantanu Thakur, Hon’ble MoS, MoPSW.

  Public private partnerships increase access to capital, encourage innovation and help share risks, said Shri Shantanu Thakur, Hon’ble MoS, MoPSW in his inaugural address virtually at the Maritime Public-Private-Partnership Conclave 2022 organized by Paradip Port Authority here in Bhubaneswar. They are well designed and implemented in a transparent regulatory environment bringing in greater efficiencies and sustainability to the provision of public services. The principal objective for encouraging PPP in the Port sector is to fulfill the requirement of creating infrastructure and operating them smoothly through expeditious mobilization of private sector resources to improve the quality and efficiency of services to the stake holders. He hoped that as a part of Vision India 2047, Paradip Port will evolve as a world class mega port with over 750 Million Tonnes Per Annum capacity by 2047. Paradip Port has been at the forefront in successfully completing several PPP projects worth over Rs.3000 crores recently, which led to capacity addition of 55 MTPA at Paradip. It is also noteworthy that the Port has recently awarded the Western Dock project of 25 MTPA capacity at a cost of Rs.2392 Crores. The 1^st Phase of this project for 12.5 MTPA capacity will be completed in 3 years and the overall project in 5 years time. On completion, this will enable Paradip Port to have facilities to handle large Cape size vessels upto 18.5 meters draft.

He reiterated that Govt. of India under the visionary leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji has been laying emphasis on attracting private investments to the Port sector to induct latest technology, improve management practices and for addition of capacity & enhancement of functional efficiency to India’s Major Ports.

In his introductory remarks, Shri P.L Haranadh, Chairman Paradip Port Authority said that aiming for a USD 5 trillion Indian economy in 2025, the port sector will grow to 2.3 Billion tonnes per annum (BTPA) traffic by 2026. Similarly, India’s manufacturing and agriculture push is likely to propel growth of containerisation traffic up to 50 MTEU by 2026. Shri Haranadh addressed that there is a need to bridge the port capacity gap in next five years to capture the traffic growth. The Govt. of India’s initiatives such as Sagarmala Programme, Maritime India Vision 2030, Major Port Authority Act 2021, National Monetization Pipeline, Gati Shakti and Amrit Kal Vision 2047 has been pivotal in driving PPP investments to the tune of Rs. 10 Lakh Crores  in Indian port sector.

Shri Haranadh further said that Paradip port has been envisioned to become 750+ MTPA capacity by 2047. Around 80 MTPA capacity addition projects has been identified to be taken up in recent 4-5 years period. Further Capacity augmentation projects are being explored driven by Port led Industrialization and adequate port connectivity.

Shri Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, (GoO) stressed on port infrastructure development through PPP mode. Eastern India has a lot of growth potential in steel, polymer and plastic. Ports at Dhamra, Gopalpur, Subarnarekha and Paradip including the upcoming Mahanadi Riverine Port have huge growth potential. GoO with its single window clearance system has smoothen the port led industrialization at Paradip, Kendrapada and Balasore region. PPA, ECoR, Govts at both Centre and the State in a synergy plan will serve values.

Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport, GoO stressed for bringing the integrated vision of the State to action mode for transformation of the region. He also enumerated various investment opportunities in the State Maritime sector.

Shri Sharad Kumar Srivastava, General Manager, ECo. Railways, in his concluding remarks outlined various railway port connectivity to the iron & coal mines and industrial hubs in the hinterland. The entire ECo Rly network is being planned to have automatic signalling to handle huge expected traffic in the region. He informed that ECo. Railways is working in a synergy with each stakeholders to drive growth in the State.

    Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPA offered the vote of thanks. After inauguration ceremony, panel discussions on “Opportunities and challenges of PPP model in Indian Port Sector” and “Reduction of logistics costs in Maritime Sector – Role of PPP” took place.

PPA Celebrates Independence Day 2022.

  76^th Independence Day was celebrated by Paradip Port Trust Authority in a restrained manner following the COVID-19 guidelines. Shri P.L. Harandh, Chairman, PPA hoisted the National Flag.

Addressing on the occasion, he said that Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav intends to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

 Reflecting on the cargo throughput, he said that PPA is determined to cross 120 MMT of cargo handling this fiscal. Consecutively for the last 5 years, it has been handling more than 100 MMT mark and continuously improving its its productivity parameters like berth productivity, vessel turn-round time, pre-departure detection to reduce logistics costs to the customers.   Mentioning about few path braking decisions by the Union Govt. like Major Port Authorities Act notified on 3rd November 2021, he hoped that this will be a game-changer to the Port sector and take this sector to world class benchmark.  It will provide greater autonomy in decision making to the Major Ports and professionalize their governance. Government of India has recently launched the ‘PM Gati Shakti Master Plan’, at an estimated cost of Rs. 100 lakh-crore project for building ‘holistic infrastructure’ in India. Under Gati Shakti Master Plan, Government Will bring all infrastructure building Ministries together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects. Similarly, Government has unveiled a four-year ‘National Monetisation Pipeline’ on 23rdAugust of last year which envisages engagement the private sector and tapping private sector efficiencies in operations and management of infrastructure.

Further, MoPSW has launched the Maritime Vision India, 2030. This envisages developing mega capacity ports of International standards, Port-led industrialization, Initiatives to enhance Ease of Doing Business, transform the ship building industry and develop the National Waterways. With more than Rs. 10,000 crore investment opportunity lined up, Paradip Port is now the main driver for economic growth in the Paradip region. Over Rs.3500 crores worth of projects for Port modernization have been implemented.

These are:

Ø  Clean Cargo & Container Berth at an approximate cost of Rs.430 crores.

Ø  Development of new Iron Ore Terminal at an approximate cost of Rs.740 crores.

Ø  Mechanisation of 03 existing berths in the EQ for handling thermal coal exports at an approximate cost of Rs.1440 crores.

Ø  Development of a New Coal Import Berth at an approximate cost of Rs.650 crores.

Further, the work order for development of Western Dock at a cost of Rs.3005 Crores has been awarded to M/s JSPL. On completion, this will transform the Port with facilities to handle Cape size vessels. The Haridaspur-Paradip Railway line which has been completed is a major game changer and makes Paradip Port very competitive in international trading. Similarly, the 8 laning of the Paradip-Barbil Road by NHAI will further improve the Road connectivity to the Port.

Several initiatives have been taken by the Port under Port-led industrialization which include -  Development of Multi Modal Logistics Park by CONCOR at an approximate cost of Rs.200 crores over 100 acres of land, which envisages the development of around 1.1 million sq. ft of warehousing. Development of Tank Terminal for Numaligarh Refinery Limited including laying of pipeline and transportation of crude at an approximate cost of Rs.1500 crores. Setting up of a LPG Terminal at an approximate cost of Rs.692 crores.

It is our Corporate environmental responsibility to take step to reduce pollution in and around Port. Mechanisation projects is mainly meant to reduce multiple handling of Cargo and thereby reduce dust emission. As per Maritimi Vision, the entire Port will be mechanized by 2025. PPA aims to plant 1 million trees by 2025.

Ø  For staff welfare, insurance coverage has been provided to over 900 employees and 800 contract workers giving coverage of Rs.5 lakhs for natural death.

Ø  Constructions of 147 residential quarters have been planned for accommodation of Port employees .

Ø  For management of COVID-19, PPA Hospital aims to provide 5,000 booster doses to the employees and their family members. 53 Nos.of COVID Patients treated at Paradip Port Authority Hospital.

Ø  The Mega Health Camp conducted On 17^th July at Languli Matha, P.O. Palai, Dist.Jajpur. 670 nos. Patients treated free of cost under CSR Scheme.

Ø  300 nos. of cataract cases will be operated under CSR activities, 10 nos. cases of cataract operation have been done till date.

Ø  Free Ultrasound checkups of 15 nos. pregnant women have been conducted under Prime Minister Surakhit Matritva Yojana (PMSMY), free of cost.

Ø  Paradip Orchad is being implemented, opposite to Biju Convention Centre, where all fruit bearing trees will be planted.

Ø  For fishermen community, the Port plans to undertake the modernization and upgradation of  fishing harbor with Rs. 100 Cr. Under PM Mastya Sampad Yojana.

Going ahead the Port has laid down sustainable eco-friendly development as the forward strategy to success. Along with it framework have been laid upon to reduce pollution, implement waste management and recycling of dredge material at the port. Several green initiatives are underway at the Port such as increasing the port power usage to solar energy, adopting to multi-clean fuel vehicles such as LNG and electric vehicles in the port, dust and pollution control as a part of corporate environment responsibility (CER) and driving greenification of the port. In future the Paradip Port is destined to not only be a Mega Port but also a Clean & Green Port.  

Thereafter, Shri Harandh awarded prizes to Employees and Covid warriors of various Departments and CISF, who have excelled in their respective work area.

Free COVID-19 booster shots for all employees and their dependents at PPA Hospital

 As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, free precaution doses of COVID-19 vaccines for all employees above 18 years of age at PPA Hospital was inaugurated by Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA. He said that it would further boost India’s fight against COVID-19 and provide an extra layer of safety. “I urge all regular and contractual employees and their dependents, those who are eligible to get their precaution dose at the earliest,’’ Shri A.K. Bose, Dy Chairman, Dr. P. Panda, CMO and other HoDs were also present on the occasion. Under this initiative, PPA aims to vaccinate 5000 employees.

Observation of International Day of Yoga - 2022 at PPA

Paradip Port Authority observed the 8th International Day of Yoga with the theme “Yoga for Humanity” today with great enthusiasm. Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPA inaugurated the event at Biju Convention Centre in presence of Shri, A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPA. Shri Tapas Ranjan Pati, experienced faculty of the Art of Living conducted the Yoga session. Huge number of participants have also virtually joined live streaming of IDY 2022 observations from Mysuru Palace ground led by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Of late, the practice of Yoga has emerged as one of the most powerful way to ensure our holistic well being. The CISF Unit of PPA, Volunteers of Paradip Sakshyarata Samiti, local school students along with PPA employees also joined the Yoga demonstration. Banners, hoardings and Electronic Display Boards highlighted the significance of the observation of International Day of Yoga to build awareness among the local populace. It is to be noted that Paradip Ladies Club is daily conducting evening Yoga classes for the physical and mental well being of Women folk of PPA. Similarly, Gopabandhu Kreeda Sansad from time to time conducts Yoga sessions for PPA employees and their families to contribute a healthy workforce to the nation. As Yoga embodies unit of mind and body, thought and action, it has been incorporated in the education curriculum of the students from Port Trust UP School & High School.

Draft Guidelines for Operationalization of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferry service along the coast of India issued for Stakeholder Consultation

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), under its Sagarmala Programme, has embarked on developing an ecosystem for promotion of Ro-Ro (Roll-on, Roll-off) ferry and waterway transportation in the country. This mode of  transportation has multiple benefits including reduced travel time, reduced logistics cost and lower pollution in comparison to conventional mode of transportation.

In view of immense potential and distinct advantages of ferry service, Ministry is financially supporting 45 projects with total project cost of Rs. 1900 Crore. Under the gambit of Sagarmala, Ministry has operationalized Ro-Pax Ferry service between Ghogha - Hazira in Gujarat and Mumbai - Mandwa in Maharashtra. These services have transported more than 7 lakh passenger and 1.5 lakh vehicles, contributing towards clean environment and public welfare.

In view of success of these projects and high demand and potential, additional projects are planned at Pipavav and Muldwarka in Gujarat and Ghodbunder, Veldur, Vasai, Kashid, Rewas, Manori and JN Port etc. in Maharashtra.  In addition to above, Ministry is supporting 4 projects in Andhra Pradesh, 2 projects in Odisha and 1 each in Tamil Nadu and Goa.

The Ministry has prepared draft of “Guidelines for Operationalization of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferry service along the coast of India” after incorporating the preliminary inputs received from the stakeholders. The guidelines encompass the two aspects of  ferry operation namely; concessions for terminal operation  and license for operation of Ro-Pax vessels.

These guidelines will homogenize and streamline the development and operations of ferry services, along with, promoting ease of doing business by eliminating unnecessary delays, disagreements and introducing digital interventions at customer interface. They will also help State/UT Governments and Port Authorities in implementation of such projects by standardization of procedures. Further, it will help in instilling confidence among the private players thereby increasing their participation and promoting healthy competition in such projects.

The Ministry intends to seek feedback and suggestions on the draft guidelines for operationalization of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax ferry service along the coast of India from all stakeholders. The document can be accessed from the websites of the MoPSW and Sagarmala on the links https://shipmin.gov.in/ and https://sagarmala.gov.in/ respectively and suggestions can be sent to sagar.mala@gov.in the proforma attached as Annexure I of the guidelines within 21 days from the date of publication.

Press Release on Paradip port project for deepening and optimisation of inner harbour facilities

Paradip port project for deepening and optimisation of inner harbour facilities to be developed at estimated cost of Rs 3,004.63 crore.Shri Sonowal says project is a milestone towards Paradip Port becoming a Mega Port and  in line with Prime Minister’s vision of development of Eastern States.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways aims for robust investor confidence by underpinning strong vision and leadership from long term strategic infrastructure plan including a pipeline of investable projects that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and practically deliverable. One of those visionary initiatives is capital intensive project at Paradip port which will transform the port into a world-class modern port which will have capability to handle capsize vessel. The decision has been taken with a futuristic approach as Prime Minister has been laying emphasis on development of eastern states.

The project involves deepening and optimization of inner harbour facilities including development of western dock on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis under Public-Private Partnership (PPP)mode at Paradip Port. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 3,004.63 crore. This includes development of the new Western Dock on BOT basis and capital dredging by the selected concessionaire at a cost of Rs 2,040 crore and Rs 352.13 crore respectively; and Paradip Port’s investment will be to the tune of Rs 612.50 crore towards providing Common Supporting Project Infrastructure.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal  said the success of the project is a milestone towards Paradip Port becoming a Mega Port. He said this is in line with Prime Minister’s vision of development of Eastern States.  The minister said the project will enhance the Port’s ability to handle Cape Size vessels, will contribute to Port’s capacity addition of 25 MMTPA and will result in improvement in the Port efficiency, better cargo handling, increased trade and also lead to socio-economic growth including employment generation.

The project will facilitate de-congestion of the port, reduce sea freight making coal imports cheaper, and boost the industrial economy in the hinterland of the port leading to creation of job opportunities. The port, after the project, can easily handle very large ships for which 18 metre draft is required resulting in reduction in logistics cost and will boost EXIM trade in the current global competitive environment.

Paradip Port Auhtority was commissioned in 1966 as a mono commodity port for export of iron ore. In the last 54 years, the Port has transformed itself to handle a variety of EXIM cargo which include iron ore, chrome ore, aluminium ingots, coal, POL, fertilizer raw materials, lime stone, clinker, finished steel products, containers, etc. Paradip Port Authority (Concessioning Authority) shall provide the common supporting project infrastructure works like breakwater extension & other ancillary works to facilitate handling cape size vessels by the selected BOT concessionaire with an ultimate capacity of 25 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) in two phases of 12.50 MTPA each. The concession period shall be 30 years from the date of award of concession.

It shall cater to the requirement of coal & limestone imports besides export of granulated slag & finished steel products considering the large number of steel plants established in the hinterland of Paradip Port.

PPA wins the 40th All India Major Ports Cricket Championship

40th All India Major Ports Cricket Championship Kicked off at Gopabandhu Stadium

The 40th All India Major Ports Cricket Championship for the year 2021-22 hosted by Paradip Port Authority under the guidance of Major Port Sports Control Board kicked off this morning at Gopabandhu Stadium. Chief Guest on the occasion Shri A.K. Bose, Dy Chairman inaugurated the event. He took salute from the marching contingents of players accompanied by band played by the students from Saraswati Shishu Vidyamandir, Paradip. Students of Sagarika Kala Niketan performed cultural programme.

    Dy. Chairman Shri Bose accompanied by other HoDs met all the players of the 9 participating teams from various Major Ports. They also played a few deliveries on the pitch. The inaugural match was played between Mumbai Port and Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Port.

   Dr. D.P. Sethi, Working President, Gopabandhu Kreeda Sansad gave the welcome speech. Shri D.N. Sondhi, President, GKS also spoke on the occasion. Shri Ranjan Rashmi Beura, Secretary, GKS compered the programme.

Union Power Secretary reviews thermal coal coastal shipping through Paradip Port

The ongoing peak summer coupled with reviving Indian economy has resulted in power shortages in several states.  In this background, Shri Alok Kumar, Secretary, Minister of Power along with Addl. Secretary Shri Vivek Kumar Dewangan made a whirlwind tour to Paradip Port for taking stock of domestic/imported thermal coal evacuation systems. Hon’ble Secretary was extended warm welcome by Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPA at the Wet Basin and Ceremonial Guard of Honour was given by CISF Unit, PPA.

Shri Alok Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Power conducted an inspection of the Port infrastructure and the modernization projects. Secretary also visited the PEQCTPL Hoper and Mechanised Coal Handling Plant to get the first hand experience of procedures in place and issues involved to augment coal supply through Paradip Port. 

He chaired a review meeting on coal supply to power plants in which Chairman, Dy.Chairman and other officials of Paradip Port, Chief Freight Transportation Manager of East Coast Railway, NTPC Ltd., Chief Manager (Marketing & Sales), Mahanadi Coal Fields Ltd. & Coal India Ltd. and Senior officials from AP Genco, Tamilnadu Genco, and Karnataka Genco participated.

In the course of discussion, PPA Chairman informed that the Port is having capacity to unload 41 nos. of Thermal Coal rakes per day against the present supply of 31 rakes per day and the capacity  is likely to be enhanced to 46 rakes per day by July, 2022 and 57 rakes per day by October, 2022. The representatives from various Gencos requested for supply of more Thermal Coal rakes highlighting their critical stock position. After taking the stock of the situation,  Power Secretary instructed the concerned authorities to address the bottlenecks on priority basis. He instructed the railways to complete various ongoing projects like Electrification in new BOT Bulb and shifting of IFFCO on CONCOR’s MMLP. Railways has assured to compete the projects by July 2022. Secretary, Power also reviewed the rail connectivity projects like Sambalpur-Talcher dubbling work, Quadrupling work of Jharpada-Budhapank and Budhapank-Salegaon, Auto-signaling between Cuttack and Paradip.  He also instructed both Railways and Port to prepare a Railway master plan jointly taking into account the traffic potential in the hinterland of the Port. He also the pendency of Thermal coal indents vide RCR mode with Railways. He instructed all the Gencos to utilise the capacity available at Paradip Port and increase volumes of Thermal coal in this financial year.

In the afternoon Power Secretary returned to Bhubaneswar after his visit to Paradip Port.

PPA BAGS ODISHA BEST EMPLOYER BRAND AWARDS 2022”

Paradip Port Authority bagged “ODISHA BEST EMPLOYER BRAND AWARDS 2022” under the Banner of World Leadership Congress held on 27th April, 2022 at Bhubaneswar. Dr.P.N.Bahekar, Secretary and Shri G.Edison, Traffic Manager, Paradip Port received the award. The certification is provided by the World Federation of HR Professionals. Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman and Shri A.K.Bose, Dy. Chairman have congratulated all HoDs for this notable achievement.

Paradip Port Authority to become a MEGA PORT

“Under Maritime vision 2030, the Paradip Port Authority will become a MEGA PORT and for this, employees, the stakeholders like exporters, importers will have to play a crucial role. Paradip is going to become one of Asia’s prominent Industrial Hub with large projects of around 10 thousand Cr. Port based industrialization is on the anvil. With the merger of Inland waterways of Mahanadi with Coastal water of the Bay of Bengal via Paradip Port, a huge potential for development has been created”, said Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, while addressing the Press, Employees and denizens of Paradip in a meeting held at the newly inaugurated Biju Convention Centre.

  As the Nation is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Shri Sonowal was quite happy to note that the Paradip Port Authority which came into existence post-independence has achieved tremendous success and created its own identity. Apart from the employees, the local population has also extended its whole hearted support. Shri Sonowal also thanked Shri Naveen Patnaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha and Govt. of Odisha for its support in development of Paradip Port. In future also they should continue this type of support so that Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of a strong and Atma Nibhar Bharat is realised.  In the spirit of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, through Sabka Prayas the efforts of several line ministries were synchronised for the holistic and speedy development of the nation, Hon’ble Prime Minister on 15th August 2021 announced the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan worth Rs. 100 Lakhs Cr. Gati Shakti aims to provide systematic, multi modal connectivity to various economic zones for seamless movement of people, goods & services resulting in efficient conduct of logistics and economic activities.  

   In order to become a super power our new generation should undergo new innovation thought process, start-ups, connectivity, industry, science and technology. There should be coherent approach between the teaching community, parents and students. Shri Sonowal launched “Vidya Ashribad Scheme” for the local school students belonging to the marginalized section of the society who are being provided with study kits comprising of school bags, shoes and other accessories.  Hon’ble minister also launched the “Baristha Kalyan Yojana” under which the inmates of Maa Santoshi Old Age Home were provided utility kits.

   Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPA in his welcome speech, outlined about the prospects of various projects like 2nd exit-cum-road flyover (Gati-Shakti Project), Sewerage Treatment Plant, creation of Aayush Garden, Paradip College Boy’s Hostel, Container Scanner which were inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister. Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPA was also present on the occasion.

Maiden visit of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister, Ports, Shipping & Waterways to Paradip Port

Press Release on Slipway with the Keel Laying Ceremony of a Pilot Boat at Paradip Port

Commencement of Vessel Construction activities at Paradip Port , April 18, 2022, The Chairman, Paradip Port,  Shri P.L Haranadh, IRTS inaugurated Vessel construction activities at Paradip Port Slipway with the Keel Laying Ceremony of a Pilot Boat.  The Boat is being constructed by Sadhav Offshore Engineering Pvt Ltd. (SOEPL), which has taken the slip way on lease through an e-auction process by the Port in November 2021.

Since the Slipway was built around 30 years ago only small boat repairs have been carried out from time to time.

Sadhav plans to enhance and use the infrastructure for Vessel Construction aside from Boat repairs. The company is engaging Professionals and experts in the field to design and build high quality sea going vessels that will be recognized the world over.

 "Odisha has a very rich Maritime tradition, and so we felt it is important for us to revive the business of Ship Construction and Repair in the state, as it would not only provide high employment opportunity but will also revive the Odia pride in their rich cultural traditions", said Devahuti Choudhury, Director, Sadhav Offshore Engineering.

64th Day of Countdown to International Day of Yoga 2022 at Paradip Port

Inspired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is declaring 21st June the International Day of Yoga as a build up to the main event PPA conducted  Yoga Session for its employees. The programme was organised in association with the local branch of Art of Living at Smruti Udyan where employees participated in common Yoga protocol sessions. Shri P.L.Haranadh grace the occasion as Chief Guest. Similarly PPA CISF Unit and children of Port Trust UP School participated in separate Yoga sessions.

43rd All India Major Ports Volleyball and 17th Beach Volleyball Championship 2021-22 kicks off

In the joint association of Paradip Port Authority and Major Ports Sports Control Board, 43^rd All India Major Ports Volleyball and 17^th  Beach Volleyball Championship 2021-22 kicked off this evening at Gopabandhu stadium. The event will come to an end on 15^th April. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, said that after two years of the pandemic, the stage has given an ample opportunity to the Major Ports Community to interact among themselves about their well being. It will develop brotherhood among the Port fraternity. He advised all the players to play in sports spirit and avoid any kind of untoward incident. Shri Bose took the salute in the march past by participants.

Organising committee Secretary Dr. D.P. Sethy gave the welcome speech and Vice-chairman Shri Babul Sikdar and Chairman Shri D.N. Sondhi spoke on the occasion. PPA Sports Council Secretary Ranjan Rashmi Beura and Advisor Rabi Das conducted the programme.

On the occasion, students of Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir sang the opening chorus and artists from Sagarika Kala Niketan and Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir performed in the cultural programme. Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir Host Troupe and Paradip District Judo Team and Karate team performed demonstrations. Around 120 participants from seven major ports are participating in the sports extravaganza. Today’s opening match held between PPA & Mormugao Port Authoriy.

Waterways Conclave 2022-Regional Connectivity through Waterways to be held on 11-12th April 2022 in Dibrugarh,Assam

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways along with Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is organizing Waterways Conclave 2022 on 11th-12th April in Dibrugarh, Assam. Along with aspirations of PM Gati Shakti National Masterplan, Waterways Conclave aims for speedy development of Multimodal projects in North-eastern region to energize the economic activities and augment employment generation. There is a potential to upsurge in regional trade and investment through collaboration. New possibilities for cooperation in waterways sector between the nations shall be generated. FICCI is the industry partner for the two-day conclave.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal,  Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister of Assam Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma will address  the conclave .

 Waterways Conclave 2022 will also be attended by various stakeholders in the waterways ecosystem such as Policy Planners, Senior Government Officials, Domestic and International Investors, Sector Experts, Infrastructure players, Vessel Owners and Operators, Cruise Tourism industry, Cargo Passengers, Representatives of Major Ports well as the Governments of Maritime States in the country. The conclave shall be addressed by dignified speakers on both the days. The conference is backed up with special sessions.

59th National Maritime Day was celebrated at PPA

59^th National Maritime Day was celebrated at PPA in the Wet Basin of the PPA’s Marine Site office, where, Shri P.L. Haranadh, graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

        At the meeting, Shri Haranadh spoke about the rich Maritime Heritage of the Nation in ancient times. The state of Odisha also has a rich Maritime History which reflected by celebration of Port Day on the auspicious of occasion of Kartika Purnima. He spoke in length about the future prospects of PPA to be become the mega Port in the country. He hoped that by 2030, PPA will have half a billion rated capacity, with capacity augmentation and mechanisation of existing berths, is quite achievable. As part of green initiatives, LNG green filling stations will come up which will promote green economy in the locality. By 2025, one million trees coverage will be undertaken in the periphery so that there will be drastic reduction in the carbon footprint. Under Maritime vision 2030 a world class signal station will come up within next two years. Praising the spirit and innovations shown by PPA employees, he appealed everybody to work on Mission to make PPA the No.1 Port in the country. He hoped that with the benchmarking, PPA has set in the recent years will definitely boost its prospects to be a global Port.

        Addressing the gathering, Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPA stressed on sustainable shipping through cost reduction and seamless movement. Shri Y.K. Singh, DIG, Coast Guard also spoke about the Maritime heritage of the country.Capt. Ram Prasad Yadav, Master, MV Decan Pride was felicitated on the occasion for his tireless service and stellar contribution to the Indian Maritime Industry. Coinciding with the observations of National Maritime Day competitions like heaving line throw and rope climbing were held. Winners of the different competitions were also awarded on the occasion.

 Capt.A.C.Sahu, Dy. Conservator, PPA gave the welcome speech and Er.Babul Sikdar, Sr.Marine Engineer offered Vote of Thanks.

Press Release on important contribution of seafarers during the tough COVID times in making country self reliant and keeping global supply chain operationa

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal emphasises important contribution of seafarers during the tough COVID times in making country self reliant and keeping global supply chain operational.Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has emphasised the important contribution of seafarers during the tough COVID times in making country self reliant and keeping global supply chain operational.Congratulating  all stakeholders of maritime fraternity at the 59th National Maritime Day celebration function he said that inspite of the huge challenges  our Indian seafarers courageously continued to keep India’s Flag flying high throughout the world. He said the role played by Indian seafarers in keeping the global supply chain operational can well be gauged from the fact that even during the height of COVID-19 Pandemic more than 2,10,000 Indian seafarers served on Indian and Foreign ships in 2021.

He said this also ensured that Indian and global trade and commerce activities continued unhindered. Shri Sonowal said with our Indian seafarers working throughout the world in pandemic times, we set an example for the world of our rich ancient Indian ethos and philosophy of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam or the entire world is one family .

 Shri Sonowal said  Prime Minister has announced that India will achieve net zero targets by 2070. Accordingly, this year’s National Maritime Day theme of ‘Propelling Indian Maritime Industry to Net Zero’ is apt. He said in the Maritime Industry, India has always championed the cause of environmental protection, whether it is implementation of Global Sulphur Cap or IMO greenhouse gas emission regulations on domestic ships or committing to Conference of Parties to UNFCC to reach Net Zero by 2070.He said in pursuance of attaining the dream of  Prime Minister  and as espoused through Maritime India Vision, 2030 he was confident that India would lead the world through the Maritime sector in the years to come.

The Minister further elaborated that share of Indian seafarer in world shipping has shown an increase of 25% between 2016 and 2019.

He said the Indian cruise industry, is growing rapidly due to multiple government interventions in the last 3 years. Over the next decade, the Indian cruise market has the potential to increase by 8 times driven by rising demand and disposable incomes, he added.Shri Sonowal also appreciated the tremendous contribution made by maritime community and informed that the Government is promoting ‘Ease of Doing Business’ to reduce logistic costs and facilitate shipping and is working towards making Indian maritime sector attain the foremost position in the world.

Today’s event was started by flagging off Walkathon by  Minister of State  Shri Shantanu Thakur at Safdarjung Tomb in the morning . On this occasion senior officials of the Ministry, DG Shipping, Port officials and about 600 trainee cadets from Maritime institutes located in the NCR MTI, teaching faculties as well as Merchant navy officers from NCR region were also present.

National Maritime Day Celebration assumes special significance as it was exactly 103 years back when history was created, on 5th April 1919, SS Loyalty, first Ship under Indian Flag, set sail from Mumbai to London.

Press Release on Annual Cargo Throughput and Sagarmala

Paradip Port achieved highest record of cargo handling of 116.13 million metric tonnes during the financial year 2021-22 ,surpassing the previous best achieved during the year 2020-21 by around 114.55 million metric tonnes.

During this financial year the Iron Ore traffic dropped by around 30% due to international market conditions and poor demand for iron ore export.  Despite that Paradip Port could register cargo handling by improving its performance in other commodities.  Paradip Port handled 38% more thermal coal coastal shipping this year by putting in place improved operational protocols.  A number of rakes handled in Mechanical Coal Handling Plant (MCHP) have improved by 25% 

 The port operating surplus improved by a remarkable 10% and   operating margin has improved to 60%. The Operating ratio of the organization has improved to its best figure of 40%.  During this financial year Paradip Port changed to Paradip Port Authority as per the new Major Port Authority Act of 2021.

 The Major Port Authority Act transformed the management model of the port and strengthen the ports to serve the customers better and contribute towards nations economy 

During this financial year Paradip Port has commissioned 2 (two) important projects namely Development of New Coal import terminal at a cost of   Rs. 650 Crores with capacity of 15MMTPA. This terminal is equipped with world class cargo handling systems and can improve import of coal and other dry bulk cargo through Paradip.

Mechanization of 3 berths in the EQ for handling thermal coal coastal shipping at a cost of Rs.1440 crores.  This terminal with a capacity to handle 30 MMTPA and equips Paradip to meet the entire demand of thermal coal coastal shipping of southern India. 

During 21-22 Paradip Port has surpassed the target set of 109 crores for capital expenditure (IEBR) and achieved Rs.121 crores. To improve the port connectivity Haridaspur Paradip rail connectivity around 82 kms at cost of Rs.3200 crore has been commissioned which resulted in direct connectivity from Iron ore mining to Port. 

The Major Port is celebrating the 7th year of Sagarmala Programme inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister in March 2015. The Sagarmala Programme was launched with objectives of promoting port led economy development, augmenting port capacity, port connectivity and to reduce the logistic cost of EXIM cargo.

During the last 7 years Paradip Port have commissioned the Projects worth of Rs.3200 crores under Port modernization. The clean cargo and container terminal with capacity of 5 MMTPA was commissioned at a cost of Rs.430 crores. The new Iron export terminal with a capacity of 10 MMTPA become operational at a cost of Rs.740crores. A new coal import terminal and coastal shipping coal terminal has also been commissioned during the current financial year at a cost of 2090 crores.

Under the Sagarmala Programme port based industrialization is also one of the pillars under port led industrialization.  A Multi Modal logistic park at a cost of Rs.200 crores over 100 acres of land is under development. Paradip Port has allocated land for setting up 2 nos of Pellet plants and POL Tank Terminal at a cost of Rs.7000 crores. A new Tank Terminal for Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. for transportation of crude at cost of Rs.1500 crores is being set up.

 Paradip Port is in the final stage of awarding of most prestigious Western Dock project of 25 MMTPA capacity with a cost of Rs.3000 crores. This Western Dock will enable the Paradip Port to handle Cape size vessels. 

Coastal community development is one of the major pillars of Sagarmala Project. Paradip Port, under Pradhan Mantri Mastya Sampad Yojana, is implementing augmentation and modernization of Paradip Fishing harbor at cost of Rs.99.75 crores. This project will upgrade the Paradip fishing harbor to a world class level and will improve the earning of the fishing community.

 Hon’ble Prime Minister has unveiled Gati Shakti Master plan to bring about integrity planning and execution of projects to address the issue of Multimodal and last mile connectivity.  Under PM Gati Shakti project, Paradip Port has taken up construction of 2nd exit Road-cum Fly over with a sum of Rs.93 crores to serve as an alternative road of the port. This is a 2.4 km length and four lane road –cum flyover is expected to relieve traffic congestion of Paradip city. It is expected to be completed by           2022-23.

Paradip Port started implementing the Maritime Vision 20-30 unveiled by Hon’ble Prime Minister, during the March 2022. Under Maritime vision, there will be investment of Rs.300 lakh crores and is expected to generate employment of 20 lakhs job across all the major ports.

 As per MIV 2030 Paradip Port is targeted to become half billion tonne capacity port by 2030 with 100% mechanization. Paradip Port have completed already 30 initiatives  and another 63 initiatives are under progress.

Paradip Port giving highest priority for ease of doing business and has been implementing various digital solutions to improve efficiencies and transparency. As a part of its green initiatives, the number of steps like dry fog system, mechanical sprinkling, road sweeping machines, truck tyre washing , concreting of the roads, ambient air quality machines, Sewerage treatment plant have been taken up by Paradip Port.  Paradip Port has set up a target of beautification of area with one lakh tree plantation. 

Chairman Paradip Port has expressed his gratitude to Hon’ble Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sri Sarbananda Sonowal and Hon’ble Shipping Secretary    Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan for their guidance, direction and support.  He also thanked Ministry of Railways, Deptt. of Customs, Govt. of Odisha for their support to achieve the above performance. He also congratulated all the exporters and importers, PPP Operators, User Industries, Stevedores, Steamer Agents, Trade Unions and officers and staff for their continued faith on the ability of the Port facilities.

PPT drops ‘Trust’ wrests ‘Authority’.

The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) got a new nomenclature as it has now been renamed as Paradip Port Authority (PPA) under the provisions of the Major Port Authorities Act (MPA), 2021. The maiden Board meeting of Paradip Port Authority was convened today under the Chairmanship of Shri P.L. Haranadh at Paradip. The meeting  deliberated various agenda items pertaining to the Port and new nomenclature was one of the agenda, for which the resolution was passed.Through a circular, Dr. P.N. Bahekar,  Secretary has asked all Heads of Departments (HoDs) to initiate necessary action for making appropriate changes in the nomenclature of the Port and also to effect necessary changes in the relevant documents, papers, letterheads and also inform the changes to authorities concerned, stakeholders, etc.In pursuance of sub-section 1 of Section 3 of the Major Port Authorities Act (MPA), 2021 the Government of India had already constituted a new Board of Major Port Authority for Paradip Port.

Sagarmala Mobile App launched by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Coastal and Inland Waterways CargoFacilitation Centre set-up Water Taxis and Cruise Terminals among priority through Ro-Ro/ Ro-Pax Terminal.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways organized an event to commemorate successful seven years of Sagarmala program. The highlight of the event was showcasing the exemplary performance, the flagship program of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has achieved during the last 7 years. The mobile application of Sagarmala was launched by Union Minister, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in the presence Minister of State, Shri Shripad Naik; Minister of State, Shri Shantanu Thakur; Secretary, Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan and other senior officials and dignitaries.

 Speaking on the occasion Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Sagarmala program was launched with the objective to improve ports’ efficiency. He said Quality service delivery has made Turnaround Time (containers) at Ports come down to 26.58 hours from 44.70 hours in 2013-14

 The Minister said the report card of Ministry showcases 802 projects worth Rs. 5.48 lakh Crore under the Sagarmala program targeted to be executed by 2035 out of which 194 projects worth Rs. 99,000 Crore have been completed. A total of 29 projects worth Rs. 45,000 Crore have been successfully implemented under PPP model, thus, reducing the financial burden on the exchequer. Further, there are 218 projects worth Rs. 2.12 lakh Crore under construction and expected to be completed in 2 years’ time. This apart, 390 projects worth Rs. 2.37 Lakh Crore are under development pipeline.Shri Sonowal also mentioned about the skill centers developed under Sagarmala. Centre of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding (CEMS) which has trained over 5000 candidates in 50+ courses since inception. National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) at IIT Madras has carried out more than 70 research and technical support projects related to ports and waterways. Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT) at IIT Kharagpur has been set up to provide research, testing and experimentation facility to IWAI, shipyards and ports. Multi Skill Development Centres (MSDC) for training are already operational at the premises of Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Chennai Port Authorities in which 1200 candidates have been trained. Also, more than 35,000 candidates have undergone training at Safety Training and Welfare Institution, Alang. Additionally, Deen Dayal Upadhyay- Grameen Kaushalya Yojna Sagarmala Convergence Programme, under Ministry of Rural Development, to enable skilling of coastal population, trained more than 1,900 candidates,he added.

 Port connectivity, another important element of the program, has 80 projects under its ambit. These include connectivity infrastructure projects, freight-friendly expressways to enable efficient movement of containers on key routes, and the development of strategic inland waterways. Port-led industrialization is being taken up with the aim to boost industrial and export growth along the coastline. This will be realized through 14 Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) along the coastline. Another noteworthy initiative, development of a new deep draught port at Vadhavan, on the north coast of Maharashtra is taking shape. The port will cater to Ultra Large Container Vessels (UCLVs). Several steps are also being taken towards transitioning major ports to smart ports focusing on Port Community System; Logistics Data Bank Service; RFID Solutions; Enterprise Business Systems; Direct Port Delivery (DPD); Direct Port Entry (DPE); scanners/ container scanners and simplifying the procedures.

During this event an exhibition was also organized by major ports showcasing their Sagarmala projects.

 Sagarmala program was launched in March 2015 with the objectives to achieve port modernization & new port development, port connectivity enhancement, port-led industrialization and coastal community development. The program has followed a stepped approach of implementation with first attempt on implementing the maritime projects through Public Private Partnership (PPP) wherever feasible. Projects which have high social and economic quotient but low IRR are being implemented through funding support under the Sagarmala program.

The financial assistance is provided to State Governments and other MoPSW agencies for port infrastructure projects, coastal berth projects, Road & Rail projects, fishing harbours, skill development projects, Coastal community development, cruise terminal and unique projects such as Ro-Pax ferry services etc.

51st Safety Week concludes at PPT

Nurture young minds - Develop safety culture” being the theme, the 51^st National Safety Week is being observed by Paradip Port Trust today came to an end. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT hoisted the National Safety week Flag, this morning at an event held at Gate No. 4, in presence of Shri Somashekhar B. , Asst. Director, Dock Safety along with other HoDs and PPT officials and various stakeholders. A tribunal salute was offered by Shri P.K. Kar, Safety Officer, PPT. Addressing the gathering,         Shri Haranadh said that we shouldn’t sign off safety as the week concludes, but continue this throughout the year. Any miscalculation or wrong step by us will lead to accident or misfortune. Addressing the gathering he said that safety and productivity should go together, so that the output and efficiency will improve. He stressed on conduction of regular safety training programmes for the sake of employees and proper and timely availability of safety equipments. Under infrastructure development programme, as PPT is vying for 100% mechanisation in the next five years from the current 75%, to eliminate manual handling of cargo. Also improved safety protocols will be immensely beneficial to the employees. Mock Drills must be conducted on a regular basis to prepare ourselves for any eventuality. Shri Haranadh informed about the project to make concrete artery road inside the harbour to ensure safety in the prohibited area. Railway level crossing gates will be improved within a year.

Thereafter, the winners of various competitions like safety essay, debate and poster competitions, organised on the occasion, were awarded. Shri S.K. Das, CME, PPT gave the welcome address and called upon all the stakeholders to make Safety a teamwork. Shri P.K. Kar, Safety Officer, PPT offered the vote of thanks. Shri Harandah along with other HoDs visited an exhibition organised on the occasion about new types of conveyor systems.

International Women’s Day observed at PPT

Paradip Sakshyarata Samiti under the aegis of PPT today organised a seminar at Officers’ Club. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman highlighted various developmental works undertaken by PSS and assured of all support by  PPT in its future endeavour. Shri D.N. Sondhi, FA & CAO, Dr. P.N. Bahekar, Secretary, Smt. Premalata Barik, Poetess & Social Worker were Guests of Honour at the seminar, in which Er. Deepak Rath, Vice Chairman of PSS presided over the meeting. In the beginning, a documentary on various developmental works undertaken by PPT was exhibited.  Shri Haranadh also felicitated renowned teacher Smt. Geetanjali Tarai on the occasion. Winners of various competitions like poem recitation, slogan writing etc. were also felicitated by the Chief Guest. Various SHGs which have excelled in their respective work areas and women volunteers, who have immensely contributed by making nose masks during COVID period, were also felicitated. Shri Ramchandra Pradhan, Secretary, PSS offered vote of thanks. In the evening in a separate function organised by the Working Women Cell, PPT, Dr. P.N. Bahekrar, Secretary, gave a lecture on the topic "Gender Equality & Women Power".

CISF Event on the eve of 53 Raising Day

On the eve of Raising Day of CISF on 10th March, CISF Unit of Paradip Port held an event, this morning, in its local complex. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman graced the occasion as Chief Guest and took salute from the marching contingents. Addressing the gathering, he said that the CISF is created for the better protection and security of industrial undertakings in the country. With the number of personnel has reached over 1,80,000, it has transformed into a multi-skill security agency of the country mandated to provide security to the major installations across the country. Since the Ports are going to be gateways of development, the seamless, secure port operations will be crucial to the productivity and revenue earning of the Ports. As Paradip Port will evolve as a Mega Port in the east coast, the responsibility of CISF for ensuring the security will rise manifold. Shri Haranadh stressed on an Improved version of Gate Management System, which will be operational by next fiscal, so that CISF will be better equipped to monitor the operations of the Port as well as the periphery.

Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, Commandant Akshat Patel and other HoDs of PPT were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.

National Safety Week kicks off at PPT

Nurture young minds - Develop safety culture” being the theme, the 51st National Safety Week is being observed by Paradip Port. Shri A. K. Bose, Dy. Chairman inaugurated Safety Week Celebrations by flagging off Safety Rath and Safety Rally this morning which culminated at Gate No-4. Shri S.K. Das, CME & Shri Deepak Rath, Dy. CME were also present on the occasion.

PPT bags “Port of the Year” Award

PPT was adjudged Port of the Year in Non-containerised Cargo category in the Eastern Star Awards 2022 held in Kolkata on February 24, 2022. The 7th edition of East Coast Maritime Forum 2022 concurrent with Eastern Star Awards was held by Exim India Shipping Times. Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT along with Shri Sriman Mishra, DTM received the award from Smt. H.K.Joshi, CMD, Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.

        Congratulating team PPT, Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPT has said that the award reflects PPT’s continuous efforts towards setting new benchmarks in operational excellence across the Port Industry. He appealed all the Stakeholders to continue their best efforts to scale further heights in days to come.  

Fifth year in a row : PPT achieves 100 MMT mark in Cargo Handling

Paradip Port achieved yet another 100 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of cargo handling fifth year in row. Despite COVID-19 crisis and huge shortfall in iron ore exports, it once again repeated the feat by crossing the 100 MMT mark in succession and achieved cargo throughput of 100.04 MMT till 18^th February in the current fiscal. Notably, last year the coveted mark of 100 MMT was achieved on February 21^st 2021. In spite of shortfall of Iron Ore/Pellet shipments by 30.24 %, PPT could achieve 36.86% % growth in coastal Shipping of Coal and 6.77% growth in POL, by showing better efficiency and that too in 3 days before, in comparison to the last fiscal.

Marking the occasion, symbolic cake cutting was done today at Officers' Club by Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT in presence of Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman and other HoDs and Dy. HoDs.

For the above feat, Shri Haranadh, Chairman, PPT congratulated all Officers/Employees, the user industries, Stevedores, Steamer Agents, Trade Unions, PPP Operators to have their continued faith in the ability of the Port to serve them.  Congratulating the employees and officers of the Port for their continued commitment to serve the trade, Chairman, PPT takes the pleasure of appreciating the support of Govt. authorities like Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (GoI), Govt. of Odisha, Indian Railways, Customs, Immigration Department, Dock Safety, MMD as well as the trusted partnership with all Service Providers/Terminal Operators for their sustained effort.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal reviews Ease of Doing Business(EoDB) measures and Operational Efficiency Through Technology (OETT) of Major Ports and IWAI under PM Gati Shakti National Plan

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal today took a comprehensive review of initiatives taken by the various ports for facilitating Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and Operational Efficiency Through Technology (OETT) to boost growth under PM Gati Shakti National Plan in presence of Union MoS Shri Shantanu Thakur and chairmen of all Major Ports, Inland Waterways Authority of India representatives and senior officials.

The future roadmap of Major Ports to achieve world-class infrastructure and to lead the growth journey of India on the pillars of the ambitious PM Gati Shakti National Plan was discussed. PM Gati Shakti is driven by seven engines of growth - roads, railways, airports, ports, mass transport, waterways and logistics, with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways set to play a major role in the realisation of the National Master Plan, a multi-modal connectivity masterplan launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to ensure seamless connectivity, economic growth and delivery of good governance to the citizens. The construction of a trans-shipment hub at Greater Nicobar was also part of the discussions.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister said, “Integrated efforts which are being taken by ports and others will add speed to development works around the country. PM Gati Shakti will help the people, farmers, fishing community and strengthen India’s economy. He also highlighted his recent visit to Patna and said ‘ IWAI ke sath yeh Nadi aur Sagar ka sahyog hai, Ganga Maa hai aur Brahmaputra Pita’.

       Shri Sonowal further urged the officials to put emphasis on promotion of Atma Nirbhar Bharat mission and skill development so that the youth of the country can be benefited.

       Union MoS Shri Shantanu Thakur said, "Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is committed towards PM Gati Shakti and today’s meeting is a step towards it."

       Secretary Dr Sanjeev Ranjan spoke on multi-modal connectivity, highlighting the seven pillars of growth under PM Gati Shakti, Smart, Mega and Green Ports, EoDB and Maritime India Vision(MIV) 2030.

       In this day long meeting on PM Gati Shakti initiatives, vehicle scrapping policy, implementation of MIV 2030, ongoing, completed and futuristic projects by Ports chairman were also discussed.

       All the senior officials assured that they will move forward on the directions given by the Minister so that economy can be boosted and more people can get its benefits.

       With an objective to make the Paradip Port the numero uno among Indian Major Ports and to make it a world class Port, Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port made a vivid presentation about the current bottlenecks and the road ahead. Under High Impact PM Gati Shakti projects, currently construction of 2nd exit road cum flyover at Paradip as part of additional Port connectivity from National Highway is underway. A sum of Rs. 93 Crore is earmarked for this road-cum-flyover, which is 2.4 km long and 4-lane wide and will serve as an alternative entry/ exit option to/from the Port. The project is being implemented through IPRCL. In order to augment the port connectivity and overcome future challenges, over Rs 6600 Crs projects of road, rail and waterways have been proposed.

       Under Ease of Doing Business, PCS1x and e-office have been implemented at Port. Common cloud based EBS platform is under implementation. Several initiatives to achieve operational efficiency through technology were discussed. During the Amrit Kaal Shri Haranadh says, Paradip Port eyes for a massive Transformation to a Digital led Smart Port to become a Half Billion Capacity Port by 2047.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH, ShriSarbanandaSonowal flagged off an inland waterway vessel MV Lal Bahadur Shastri from Patna to Guwahati .

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH, ShriSarbanandaSonowal flagged off an inland waterway vessel MV Lal Bahadur Shastri from Patna to Guwahati today. The vessel started its journey from Patna today and is carrying 200 Metric Tonnes of foodgrains headed for Pandu in Guwahati & will travel via Bangladesh to reach the destination by early March, 2022.

The minister also laid the foundation stone for construction of Kalughat intermodal terminal at Saran in Bihar on National Waterway - 1 (river Ganga).

This historic event was also attended by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, PiyushGoyal (virtually); Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ashwani Kumar Choubey; Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shantanu Thakur; Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar, Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi; Mangal Pandey, Minister of Health and Family Welfare,  Mr Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Minister of State, Ministry of Shipping, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Rajiv Pratap Rudy, MP (Lok Sabha); Sushil Kumar Modi, MP (Rajya Sabha); Ravi Shankar Prasad, MP (Lok Sabha) among other dignitaries & senior officials from the state government and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).

The vessel starts its sail on National Waterway-1 (river Ganga) through Bhagalpur, Manihari, Sahibganj, Farakka, Tribeni, Kolkata, Haldia, Hemnagar; Indo Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route through Khulna, Narayanganj, Sirajganj, Chilmari and National Waterway-2 through Dhubri, and Jogighopa covering a distance of 2,350 km. The vessel will take about 25 days to cover the entire voyage and is expected to reach Pandu in Guwahati by early March.

This historic feat will usher a new era of growth for all the states of Northeast India. The waterways will cut through the landlocked access which has been crippling development in the region for long. The waterways not only remove this geographical hindrance on the road of progress in the region but also provides an economical, swift and convenient transportation for the businesses and people of the region.

In line with the “Act East” policy of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) has taken up several infrastructure projects on National Waterway-1, Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route, and NW2, through the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). These steps will improve the connectivity with North Eastern Region (NER) through waterways. The Government has undertaken the ambitious Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) with an investment of about Rs. 4600 crore for the capacity augmentation of NW-1 (river Ganga) for safe and sustainable movement of vessels upto 2000 tonnes.

Speaking on this landmark moment, Shri SarbanandaSonowal, said, “This is a historic moment for all of Northeast as we embark to reap the benefit of the most seamless cargo transportation through Brahmaputra. This is not just a journey from Patna to Pandu but it is a journey of unfulfilled desires & aspirations to reach out to a wider world via waterways. The opportunity for the people of Assam & Northeast is tremendous. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, the Northeast region is no longer relegated but every effort is made to act & unlock the value that the Astalakshmi promises. We are confident that by restarting the cargo movement via waterways is going to play a pivotal role in energising India’s northeast as the engine of growth.”

IWAI aims at running regular scheduled services on these routes. The Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) between India and Bangladesh allows mutually beneficial arrangements for the use of their waterways for the movement of goods between the two countries by vessels of both countries. National Waterway-1 (River Ganga) is connected to National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra) and National Waterway-16 (River Barak) through Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes. To improve the navigability, two stretches of IBP routes, i.e., Sirajganj-Daikhowa and Ashuganj-Zakiganj are also being developed at a cost of Rs. 305.84 crores on an 80:20 share basis (80% being borne by India and 20% by Bangladesh). The development of these stretches is expected to provide seamless navigation to NER via the IBP route. The contracts for dredging on the two stretches for providing and maintaining requisite depth for a period of seven years (from 2019 to 2026) are underway.

PM GATISHAKTI NATIONAL MASTER PLAN TO ECOMPASS SEVEN ENGINES –ROADS,RAILWAYS,AIRPORTS,PORTS,MASS TRANSPORT,WATERWAYS AND LOGISTICS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION, SEAMLESS MULTIMODAL CONNECTIVITY AND LOGISTICS SYNERGY NATIONAL HIGHWAYS NETWORK TO BE EXPANDED BY 25000 km IN 2022-23, UNIFIED LOGISTICS INTERFACE PLATIFORM (ULIP) DESIGNED FOR APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE (API) TO PROVIDE REAL TIME INFORMATION TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS MULTIMODAL LOGISTICS PARKS AT FOUR LOCATIONS THROUGH PPP MODE TO BE AWARDED IN 2022-23 ‘ONE STATION-ONE PRODUCT’ TO BE POPULARISED TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES &SUPPLY CHAINS 2,000 km OF RAILWAY NETWORK TO BE BROUGHT UNDER KAVACH, 400 NEW-GENERATION VANDE BHARAT TRAINS TO BE DEVELOPED 100 PM GATISHAKTI CARGO TERMINALS FOR MULTIMODAL LOGISTICS FACILITIES TO BE DEVELOPED DURING NEXT THREE YEARS NATIONAL ROPEWAYS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME TO BE TAKEN UP ON PPP MODE CONTRACTS FOR 8 ROPEWAY PROJECTS FOR 60 km TO BE AWARDED IN 2022-23

PM GatiShakti is a transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development. The approach is driven by seven engines, namely, Roads, Railways, Airports, Ports, Mass Transport, Waterways, and Logistics Infrastructure. While presenting the Union Budget 2022-23 in Parliament today the Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman said all seven engines will pull forward the economy in unison. These engines are supported by the complementary roles of Energy Transmission, IT Communication, Bulk Water & Sewerage, and Social Infrastructure. She said finally, the approach is powered by Clean Energy and Sabka Prayas – the efforts of the Central Government, the state governments, and the private sector together – leading to huge job and entrepreneurial opportunities for all, especially the youth.

 PM GatiShakti National Master Plan:

Finance Minister said the scope of PM GatiShakti National Master Plan will encompass the seven engines for economic transformation, seamless multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency. It will also include the infrastructure developed by the state governments as per the GatiShakti Master Plan. The focus will be on planning, financing including through innovative ways, use of technology, and speedier implementation.

Smt Sitharaman said the projects pertaining to these 7 engines in the National Infrastructure Pipeline will be aligned with PM GatiShakti framework. The touchstone of the Master Plan will be world-class modern infrastructure and logistics synergy among different modes of movement – both of people and goods – and location of projects. She said this will help raise productivity, and accelerate economic growth and development.

Road Transport:

Finance Minister said PM GatiShakti Master Plan for Expressways will be formulated in 2022-23 to facilitate faster movement of people and goods. The National Highways network will be expanded by 25,000 km in 2022-23. She said Rs.20,000 crore will be mobilized through innovative ways of financing to complement the public resources.

 Seamless Multimodal Movement of Goods and People:

Smt Sitharaman said the data exchange among all mode operators will be brought on Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), designed for Application Programming Interface (API). This will provide for efficient movement of goods through different modes, reducing logistics cost and time, assisting just-in-time inventory management, and in eliminating tedious documentation. Most importantly, this will provide real time information to all stakeholders, and improve international competitiveness. She said open-source mobility stack, for organizing seamless travel of passengers will also be facilitated.

 Multimodal Logistics Parks:

Contracts for implementation of Multimodal Logistics Parks at four locations through PPP mode will be awarded in 2022-23.

 Railways:

 Finance Minister said Railways will develop new products and efficient logistics services for small farmers and Small and Medium Enterprises, besides taking the lead in integration of Postal and Railways networks to provide seamless solutions for movement of parcels.

She said ‘One Station-One Product’ concept will be popularized to help local businesses & supply chains.

As a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat, 2,000 km of network will be brought under Kavach, the indigenous world-class technology for safety and capacity augmentation in 2022-23.Smt Sitharaman said four hundred new-generation Vande Bharat Trains with better energy efficiency and passenger riding experience will be developed and manufactured during the next three years.

 She said one hundred PM GatiShakti Cargo Terminals for multimodal logistics facilities will be developed during the next three years.

Mass Urban Transport including Connectivity to Railways:

Finance Minister said innovative ways of financing and faster implementation will be encouraged for building metro systems of appropriate type at scale. Multimodal connectivity between mass urban transport and railway stations will be facilitated on priority. She said design of metro systems, including civil structures, will be re-oriented and standardized for Indian conditions and needs.

 Parvatmala: National Ropeways Development Programme:

Smt Sitharaman said as a preferred ecologically sustainable alternative to conventional roads in difficult hilly areas, National Ropeways Development Programme will be taken up on PPP mode. She said the aim is to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters, besides promoting tourism. This may also cover congested urban areas, where conventional mass transit system is not feasible. She said contracts for 8 ropeway projects for a length of 60 km will be awarded in 2022-23.

 Capacity Building for Infrastructure Projects:

Finance Minister said with technical support from the Capacity Building Commission, central ministries, state governments, and their infra-agencies will have their skills upgraded. This will ramp up capacity in planning, design, financing (including innovative ways), and implementation management of the PM GatiShakti infrastructure projects.

For 2022-23, Finance Minister proposed allocation of Rs. 1 lakh crore to assist the states in catalysing overall investments in the economy. These fifty-year interest free loans are over and above the normal borrowings allowed to the states.

This allocation will be used for PM GatiShakti related and other productive capital investment of the states. It will also include components for:

Supplemental funding for priority segments of PM Gram Sadak Yojana, including support for the states’ share,
 Digitisation of the economy, including digital payments and completion of OFC network, and 
Reforms related to building byelaws, town planning schemes, transit-oriented development, and transferable development rights.

Union Minister of MoPSW reviewed the green initiatives of all Major Ports, CSL & IWAI

To give impetus to the development of Green Ports & Green Shipping in India as envisaged in the Maritime India Vision 2030, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, today chaired a meeting with all Major Ports, CSL & IWAI to review the progress in this regard. He said that the MoPSW is leaving no stone unturned to realize Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji's Maritime India Vision 2030 and become the global driver of Green Shipping. Team MoPSW is determined to steer India's prosperity via waterways. Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, IAS, Secretary, MoPSW also addressed on the occasion. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT and Shri. A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman attended the meeting virtually.

The Union Government has undertaken green port initiatives in the major ports so that their environmental performance can be improved. The green port initiatives include acquisition of equipments for monitoring environmental pollution, acquisition of dust suppression systems, setting up of sewage/ waste water treatment plants, setting up of garbage disposal system for ports and ships, developing shore reception facility for wastes from ships, setting up projects for energy generation from renewable energy sources, providing shore power to ships at berths, creating Oil Spill Response (Tier-1) capabilities at all ports, taking actions to improve harbour water quality, inclusion of sustainable practises in terminal design, development and operation, increasing green cover within port premises etc.

During Maritime India Summit 2021 held by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways  (MoPSW) last year in the month of March, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the ambitious Maritime India Vision 2030. The document lays the roadmap of the Indian maritime industry for the decade ahead. Sustainable eco-friendly growth has been the forefront motto of this vision document. All ports have been mandated to increase usage of renewable energy to more than 60% of the total energy consumption at ports by 2030 with primary focus on solar and wind. The target is ambitious-but-vital, to reduce the harmful environmental impact on account of coal consumption to drive the impending economic growth of the country. Along with it, frameworks have been laid upon to reduce pollution, implement waste management and recycling of dredge material at ports.

Nearing a year in completion to this vision roadmap, the MoPSW  under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, organised the annual review meeting on 29th January 2022. In this meeting, each Major Port Chairmen showcased their activities undertaken on Green Port Initiatives and their future action plans.  Chairman Paradip Port Trust, Shri P L Haranadh, affirmed that the Port is in line to the Ministry’s vision and is committed to reduce its carbon footprint. With this he presented Paradip Port’s status on green initiatives and further course of action.

On increasing the usage of renewable energy, Shri Haranadh states that some roof top solar plants on RESCO model have been installed in Paradip and discussion is going on with the Government of Odisha for providing around 50 acres of land to set up a 10 MW solar plant. To drive adoption of multi-clean fuels, Paradip Port is in talks with oil companies like IOCL, BPCL & GAIL to prepare a framework for setting up LNG depot at the port and conversion of dumpers lying inside port to LNG-driven engines. Around 30 km of rail line electrification has been completed at Paradip Port and by 2024 the Port aims at electrifying its entire rail network. Similarly, diesel locomotives will be phased out in years to come, says Shri Haranadh.

Several dust management systems have already been carried out at PPT that includes net barriers around port premises, covered conveyor belts and pipelines from nearby industries, water sprinklers and dry fog dust suppression system at berths, siding plots & MCHP. Use of mist cannons, road sweeping machines and truck tyre washing systems are few activities that have been carried out to mitigate dust on roads. As part of Corporate Environment Responsibility, Shri Haranadh said that Paradip Port will work for betterment of air quality by setting up ambient air quality monitoring stations at key locations. Further he emphasised that mechanisation is the key to reduce pollution in a dry bulk port like Paradip and nearly 80% of the present berths are mechanised whereas rest berths will be gone for mechanisation by 2025.

Under waste management, Paradip Port has already installed three Sewage Treatment Plants of total 6.5 MLD capacity, water from which is being used in mist cannons, water sprinkling systems and gardening. Around 50 acres of land have been provided to Paradip Municipality for solid waste management. Paradip Port has undertaken an agreement with Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) for using about 2.3 million cubic meter of dredged material for land reclamation of its upcoming crude oil tank terminal at Paradip. Further, Shri Haranadh said that a rain water harvesting project will be undertaken by 2025.

Since the onslaught of 1999 super-cyclone at Paradip, the Port has carried out around 7 lakhs tree plantation in the city. As part of Greenification of Paradip Port, Shri Haranadh says that an ambitious target of 1 million tree coverage by 2025 has been set. In this, cargo handling areas will also be targeted by employing horticulture experts.

With this Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT along with Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman outlined the roadmap, how PPT can be the world leader in Safe, Sustainable & Green Maritime Sector.

Shri Sarbanand Sonowal reviews progress of green initiatives undertaken for the development of Green Ports & Green Shipping in India

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbanand Sonowal chaired a meeting with all major ports, Cochin shipyard Limited (CSL) and IWAI (Inland waterways Authority of India) to review the progress on various green initiatives being implemented, as per Maritime India Vision(MIV) 2030, for the development of Green Ports & Green Shipping in India.  

Shri Sonowal reviewed the progress of initiatives undertaken for development of green ports planned under Maritime India Vision 2030. As part of MIV 2030, Total of 963 initiatives have been identified for implementation across major ports with an estimated investment of Rs. 6,77,720.24 crores, of which a total of 208 initiatives with estimated investment of Rs. 44,424.47 crores have been completed in FY 2021. Further 504 initiatives with estimated investment of Rs. 48,256.14 crores are under implementation.

A number of initiatives have been taken in India to promote green ecosystem in maritime sector. These are in line with International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s 2030 Decarbonization strategy and 2050 Green House Gases (GHG) strategy. Initiatives are being implemented by Major Ports of India that include areas, such as increase share of renewable energy to more than 60% across major ports by 2030, setting up of solar power plants, availing of shore power supply to vessels via berths, multi-clean fuel adoption for vehicles within port ecosystem, gradual phasing out of diesel locomotives at ports, etc.
The green port initiatives include acquisition of equipments for monitoring environmental pollution, acquisition of dust suppression systems, setting up of sewage/ waste water treatment plants, setting up of garbage disposal system for ports and ships, developing shore reception facility for wastes from ships, setting up projects for energy generation from renewable energy sources, providing shore power to ships at berths, creating Oil Spill Response (Tier-1) capabilities at all ports, taking actions to improve harbour water quality, inclusion of sustainable practices in terminal design, development and operation, increasing green cover within port premises etc.
Ministry is also working on draft of a “Green Port Policy” document to suggest framework and guidelines for incorporation of green initiatives in the port sector. The Policy document captures the focused areas, measured outcomes, implementation roadmap and cost recovery mechanism for the port operators and port authorities. The proposed target outcomes will help India in achieving the “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) target, as well as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2030 target.

In order to enhance the share of Green Shipping, various projects are being implemented by Cochin Shipyard Ltd., India’s largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility. These include green urban mobility solutions like Hybrid Electric Ferries, autonomous Zero-emission vessels, pilot project on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ferry, Electric Catamaran Water Taxi, Hybrid Electric Ro-Ro, Hybrid LNG-Electric Inland Cargo Carrier, Hybrid Tugs, etc. 
Possibilities are also being explored for deployment of fully electric ferry and hydrogen fuelled ferries on Inland Waterways for enhancement of river cruise tourism in the country. For instance, Electric Catamaran Water Taxi deployment is being considered at Varanasi and Guwahati in first phase. Additionally, use of Hybrid Electric Roll on -Roll off (Ro-Ro) vessels having dual fuel system (LNG+ battery) is being considered at Guwahati for river crossings. Use of Hybrid LNG-electric Inland Cargo Carrier vessels is also being considered on NW2 and NW1 . Possibility of deploying CNG vessels at Varanasi is also being explored. 
The pace at which the Green initiatives are undertaken by the 12 major ports will surely bring a green revolution in the sector making the ports cleaner and greener, which is also a key component of ‘Blue Economy’, creating environmental benefits and balancing the investments and cash flow.
In his concluding Remarks, Shri Sonowal thanked all officials for their crucial contribution towards realization of Prime Minister’s Vision for Indian Maritime Sector. He further directed all Ports to take the Green Initiatives forward by putting dedicated proactive efforts towards greening of maritime sector including finalization of green port policy.

PPT Celebrates Republic Day 2022

Republic Day was celebrated by Paradip Port Trust Authority in a restrained manner following the COVID-19 guidelines. Shri P.L. Harandh, Chairman, PPT unfurled the National Flag.

Addressing on the occasion, he said that PPT is determined to cross 115 MMT of cargo handling this fiscal also like the previous four years. Mentioning about few path braking decisions by the Union Govt. like Major Port Authorities Act notified on 3rd November 2021, he hoped that this will be a game-changer to the Port sector and take this sector to world class benchmark.  It will provide greater autonomy in decision making to the Major Ports and professionalize their governance. Government of India has recently launched the ‘PM Gati Shakti Master Plan’, at an estimated cost of Rs. 100 lakh-crore project for building ‘holistic infrastructure’ in India. Under Gati Shakti Master Plan, Government Will bring all infrastructure building Ministries together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects. Similarly, Government has unveiled a four-year ‘National Monetisation Pipeline’ on 23rdAugust of last year which envisages engagement the private sector and tapping private sector efficiencies in operations and management of infrastructure.

Further, MoPSW has launched the Maritime Vision India, 2030. This envisages developing mega capacity ports of International standards, Port-led industrialization, Initiatives to enhance Ease of Doing Business, transform the ship building industry and develop the National Waterways. With more than Rs. 10,000 crore investment opportunity lined up, Paradip Port is now the main driver for economic growth in the Paradip region. Over Rs.3500 crores worth of projects for Port modernization have been implemented.

These are:

Ø  Clean Cargo & Container Berth at an approximate cost of Rs.430 crores.

Ø  Development of new Iron Ore Terminal at an approximate cost of Rs.740 crores.

Ø  Mechanisation of 03 existing berths in the EQ for handling thermal coal exports at an approximate cost of Rs.1440 crores.

Ø  Development of a New Coal Import Berth at an approximate cost of Rs.650 crores.

Further, development of Western Dock at a cost of Rs.3005 Crores has been approved by Government of India and is in tendering stage. On completion, this will transform the Port with facilities to handle Cape size vessels.

The Haridaspur-Paradip Railway line which has recently been completed is a major game changer and makes Paradip Port very competitive in international trading. Similarly, the 8 laning of the Paradip-Barbil Road by NHAI will further improve the Road connectivity to the Port. Several initiatives have been taken by the Port under Port-led industrialization which include

Ø  Development of Multi Modal Logistics Park by CONCOR at an approximate cost of Rs.200 crores over 100 acres of land, which envisages the development of around 1.1 million sq. ft of warehousing.

Ø  Setting up of a Pellet Plant at an approximate cost of Rs.3000 crores.

Ø  Development of Tank Terminal for Numaligarh Refinery Limited including laying of pipeline and transportation of crude at an approximate cost of Rs.1500 crores.

Ø  Setting up of a LPG Terminal at an approximate cost of Rs.692 crores.

Ø  For staff welfare, insurance coverage has been provided to over 900 employees and 800 contract workers giving coverage of Rs.5 lakhs for natural death.

Ø  Constructions of 147 residential quarters have been planned for accommodation of Port employees and other quarters will be also converted in phases.

Dedicated teams regularly carry out disinfection activities inside port prohibited area besides ensuring mandatory use of face masks by all the personnel. We have also been undertaking disinfectant fumigation in the Port Township, PPT Administrative Building, Quarantine Centres and PPT Hospital by deploying Mist Cannons. For management of COVID-19, PPT Hospital has clocked a record vaccination of 52,000+.

All efforts are made to beautify our Port township including development of parks, creek side and walking paths and make Paradip as a walkers’ paradise. For Fishermen community, the Port has undertaken lighting of Fishery Harbour road and dredging of the navigational channel from Mahanadi River mouth. All efforts are made to beautify Port Township by development of parks, creek side and walking paths. Paradip Orchads are being planned, opposite to Biju Convention Centre, where all fruit bearing trees will be planted.

For fishermen community, the Port plans to undertake the modernization and upgradation of  fishing harbor with Rs. 100 Cr. Under PM Mastya Sampad Yojana.

Thereafter, Shri Harandh awarded prizes to PPT Hospital for 52,000+ Covid-19 vaccination, Employees and Covid warriors of other Departments and CISF, who have excelled in their respective work area.

PPT provides food materials for the needy

As a part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', an initiative of the Government of India, to commemorate 75 years of Independence and ongoing Republic Day 2022 celebrations, Paradip Sakshyrata Samiti under the aegis of PPT brought a pickup load of Dry items like grocery, foods,  clothing, sanitizer and masks and distributed among the needy at the Maa Santoshi Old Age Home, Balijhara. On this occasion, Shri P.L. Haranadh said, “PPT’s guiding principles are to serve and help the needy and downtrodden. To accomplish our aims and objectives we initiate and implement many humanitarian projects for children and adults.” Smt.  P. Girija Sundari, President, Paradip Ladies Club, Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, Dr. P.N. Bahekar, Secretary, PPT, Shri Deepak Rath, Vice Chairman, PSS and Shri Ramchandra Pradhan, Secretary, PSS along with other office bearers also participated in this noble cause.

Netaji Jayanti celebrated by PPT

Local freedom fighters felicitated on this occasion

Republic Day celebrations began on January 23 instead of January 24 this year to include Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary, in line with Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's government's "aim to highlight important aspects of our history and culture". PPT officials led by Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, offered floral tributes at the statue of Netaji near Paradip Bus Stand. As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav programme, Shri Haranadh visited the homes of local freedom fighters in Jagatsinghpur namely Shri Madhabananda Manohari of Nuapara village, Shri Bhagirathi Swain of Ichhapur village & Shri Jogendra Maharana of Aanlla (ଅଁଳା) village and felicitated them. During the course of interaction, the freedom fighters described how they in their adolescent time participated in the freedom struggle and contributed to the nation-building exercise, in the post-independence era. Shri Haranadh, Chairman, PPT wished them healthy lives and urged the younger generations to be inspired by these living patriots. Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman and Dr. P.N. Bahekar, Secretary, PPT were also present on the occasion.

Workshop on Gati Shakti organized by PPT

Paradip Port Trust under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways organized a workshop with the theme “Gati Shakti – The revolutionary Multi-Modal Connectivity for Integrated & Seamless Supply Chain” at Bhubaneswar. Gracing the inaugural session as Chief Guest, Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, IAS, Secretary, MoPSW, GoI said that PPT has the potential to reach a World Class Port by addressing the issues of Efficiency and Cost related matter. The widening of NH 53 (Paradip to Chandikhol) under Gati Shakti needs to be expedited. The widening of SH12, Paradip to Cuttack to four lane also may be undertaken on a priority basis. Waterways can play a crucial role in effective logistics movement. PPT’s proposed Riverine Port is the right step in the direction. Stressing on the need for a proper logistics legal framework under Gati Shakti, the logistics sector will get a major fill up, as it is being aimed to cut down 30% of current logistics transportation cost to the current world level of 7-8%. He also suggested for dedicated heavy haul rail corridor from Salegaon to Paradip.

Shri Bhupinder Singh Poonia, MD, IPICOL & IDCO addressing the session said that the GoO has set a target of 100 MMTA steel production. It is also stressing on port led industrialization. To boost connectivity, a 600km road stretch is being planned. RITES has been engaged for making comprehensive logistics study for the state of Odisha. Accordingly, a comprehensive industrial plan for Paradip is being planned. PPT's initiatives for containerized cargo will improve agro & marine products from the state.

Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT gave the welcome speech and made a detailed presentation on the capacity augmentation plans, efforts for synergy of different modes of transport and ease of doing initiatives of the port. Paradip port is enabled to handle 60 MMTPA of thermal coal by coastal shipping. He requested coal India and Railway to increase the allotment of more rakes of thermal coal to Paradip and Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT offered the vote of thanks.

The inaugural session was followed by two technical sessions. Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT moderated a session on "Coastal movement of thermal coal - Opportunities & Challenges". In the afternoon session, Shri B.K. Joshi, CEO, KICTPPL moderated session on 'Convergence & Divergence of logistic chain - Industrial perspective.

Visit of Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, IAS, Hon'ble Secretary for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, GoI to Paradip Port Trust

Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, IAS, Hon'ble Secretary for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, GoI made his maiden visit to Paradip Port Trust as part of regular review on 10th January 2022. He was extended very warm welcome by Shri P. L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT and Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT at Jawahar Guest House. On arrival, he was accorded Guard of Honour by the CISF, PPT contingent at Jawahar Guest House.  Thereafter, he visited the Port and saw the operations in the Dock area. He also evinced keen interest for the proposed Mahanadi Riverine Port by PPT while his onsite inspection. In the afternoon, he visited Mechanized Coal Handling Plant, Twin Wagon Tipplers at JSWPTPL and PICT berth.
 Dr. Ranjan reviewed the functioning of the PPT in the Board Room of the Administrative Building and had interaction with Exporters, Importers, Stevedores, PPP operators, local Representatives of various industries, representatives of Unions and Associations. He also has a virtual discussion on modernization of Paradip Fishing Harbour with State Govt. Officials and other stakeholders. Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan wished excellent prospects for Paradip Port in coming years.

 Secretary, Shipping has directed the Port to expedite widening of NH-53 (Paradip to Chandikhol) through Special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed between Paradip Port & NHAI under Gati Shakti Programme.

1.  Also widening of SH-12 Paradip to Cuttack to four lane to be taken on Priority.

2.  Port should expedite to complete Dhanmandal Chandikhol rail link as alternate to Cuttack Paradip for movement of Thermal Coal from Talcher.

3.  Secretary has also directed, Chairman, PPT to Jet sanction of rail master plan for Cargo evacuation under customer funded model to be executed by IPRCL.

4.  Secretary, (Shipping) has reviewed National Waterway-5 Project and has given direction to Inland Waterways Authority(IWA) to prepare a road map & implement the same in a time bound manner.

5.  A workshop has been organized on “Gati Shakti Multi Model Connectivity for Cargo Transportation” through PPT on 11th January 2022 at Bhubaneswar, where the issues connecting Cargo transportation, through roadway, railway and waterways will be discussed in detail, to come out with a clear cut action plan for implementation.

Blanket distribution by Paradip Sakshyrata Samiti

With the onset of winter, we generally slip under the warmth of blanket, lying in our comfort zone and sipping coffee sitting beside the fire. But for those who are underprivileged and live under the open sky, with every drop in the temperatures it’s a fight for survival.In the aftermath of Cyclone Jawad, as the temperature is getting down, Paradip Sakshyrata Samiti, the social arm of PPT conducted a Blanket Donation Campaign, where the slum dwellers at Sector 21 were provided high quality warm blankets along with sanitary napkins and cotton bags. Smt. P. Girija Sundari, President, Paradip Ladies Club distributed the blankets. Shri Rama Chandra Pradhan, Welfare Officer, PPT along with other office bearers of PSS and members of Paradip Ladies Club also graced the occasion.There is no better gift than providing warm clothing to the needy during the winter season. Lakhs of homeless experience bitterness of winter and are at a great risk of suffering from severe illness. There cannot be a bigger satisfaction than saving someone’s life.

Press Release on World AIDS Day

The World AIDS Day was observed at PPT Hospital with the theme  “Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice”. On this occasion, a walkathon was organised to create awareness about AIDS among the denizens of the Port township. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT, flagged off an Awareness Walkathon in presence of Smt. P. Girija  Sundari, President, Paradip Ladies Club, Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT, Smt. Suchismita Bose, Vice-President, Paradip Ladies Club, Dr.P.Panda, CMO,PPT Hospital & HoDs. The doctors, paramedical staff of the PPT Hospital along with HoDs of the PPT, CISF personnel, Volunteers of Paradip Sakshyrata Samiti, volunteers of NGOs (IRDMS & CASD)  working on AIDS, transgenders, and general public participated with enthusiasm. The walkathon culminated at PPT Administrative Building. All the participants wore symbolic red ribbon to commemorate the occasion. 

          Further, a screening camp for HIV/AIDS was organised at Gate No. 3 in association with CASD/IRDMS under the supervision of Dr. Badal kumar Singh. 56 people were screened. The test kits were provided by OSACS. PPT HOSPITAL regularly screens for HIV/AIDS as an obligation under the MOU, "Mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS at Major Ports" signed with NACO, MoHFW.  

          This is to be noted that the World AIDS Day was first observed in 1988. Each year, organizations and individuals across the world to draw attention of all to the AIDS epidemic, in an endeavor to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and knowledge, speak out against ADIS stigma, and call for an increased response to move toward Ending the AIDS Epidemic.

Press Release on visit of Shri Shantanu Thakur , Hon’ble Union Minister of State,MPSWMinistry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to Paradip Port Trust

After assuming the charge as Minister of State for Shipping, the Hon’ble Union Minister, Shri  Shantanu Thakur made his maiden visit to Paradip Port Trust as part of regular review on 26th November’ 2021. He was extended very warm welcome by Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPT and Shri .AK.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPT at Jawahar Guest House. On arrival, he was given Guard of Honour by the CISF, PPT contingent at Jawahar Guest House.  Thereafter, he visited the Port and saw the operations in the Dock area. In the afternoon he had an interaction with the local media at the Officers’ Club. Tomorrow, Hon’ble Minister will review the functioning of the Port and will meet local Representatives, Unions and Association. Shri Thakur wished excellent prospects for Paradip Port in coming years.

Port Day was observed at PPT

The Port Day was observed on the auspicious day of Kartik Purnima by the Paradip Port Trust Authorities on 19th November 2021 as being done every year, butin a restrained manner following social distancing and guidelines of the Govt.

On this occasion, Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Trust attended the function as Chief Guest and unfurled the Paradip Port Flag at Wet Basin in the morning. He performed the traditional Kalas Puja & handed over the sacred Kalas to the Sadhavas who set sail on board a traditionally decorated boat. He also inspected the Port Marine crafts lined up in the Harbour and took salute.

Thereafter Dy. Conservator, Paradip Port Capt. A.C. Sahoo welcomed the guests in the meeting and explained the importance of Port Day celebration.

Extending his greetings to the gathering on the auspicious occasion of Kartika Purnima, Shri Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Trust outlined the tremendous rise of the Port in recent decades. He appealed to all the stakeholders to embark on the Mission No. 1, to make the Port the numero uno among all the Major Ports of India. In the current fiscal, till October 2021, the Port has handled 65.28 MMT cargo, thus by exhibiting a positive growth of 5.33% and on course to cross 100 MMT cargo handling 6th year in row. Among the ongoing projects over Rs. 2,000 Cr. worth of projects are under implementation out of which mechanization of 3 EQ Berths and Development of New Coal Import Berth will be completed by December, 2021 resulting a total capacity addition of 40 MMTPA. Development of ambitious Western Dock of capacity 25 MMTPA at a cost of Rs. 3,005 Cr. is now in tendering stage and within this fiscal, it is schedule to be awarded. As Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi aims to make India No. 1 Maritime Country, during inaugural event of recent Gati Shakti, he has stressed on capacity augmentation, increase in efficiency and reduction in Turn Round Time of Vessels. The completion of Haridaspur-Paradip Rail line has been a major game changer in the region. Numaligarh Refinery Storage terminal at a cost of Rs. 500 Cr. is under implementation and 2nd Exit Road cum Fly Over as a part of Gati Shakti at a cost of Rs. 93 Cr. will be completed by next year.

 Under promotion of Business Development, Ease of doing business provisions will create a congenial atmosphere for the customers to handle traffic through out Port. e-initiatives like ERP implementation, improvement of RFID and other Smart Port initiatives will go a long way for customer satisfaction. Feasibility of power supply in the Port by Solar means in next few years will be explored. Pollution control measures to be stepped up. Under Green Port initiatives, 1 lakh plantation drive will be undertaken and in the prohibited area, greenery will be given utmost importance. Staff and Port Users’ welfare will always be in his heart. 147 quarters will be built in Phase I within a year and in the next board meeting it will be set in motion. PPT Hospital will be expanded to handle cardiac and trauma care patient. Shri Haranadh concluded by saying that he believes that Team PPT will rise to the occasion and with dedication, integrity and team effort will conquer new milestones in next couple of years.

  Dr. P.N. Bahekar, Secretary, PPT offered the Vote of Thanks.

Member, National Commission for Safai Karamcharis visited Paradip Port

Dr. P.P. Vava, Hon’ble Member , National Commission for Safai Karamcharis visited Paradip Port Trust on 18.11.2021. On arrival at the Administrative Building, Dr. Vava was welcomed by Dr. P.N. Bahekar, Secretary, PPT. In the meeting  held in the Board room of PPT, first Hon’ble Member, NCSK had discussion with the Union/ Association functioning at Paradip on the issues related to Safai Karamcharis . Afterwards, Hon’ble member had discussion  with the Chairman , PPT Shri P.L Haranadh along with HoDs and other Sr. Officers. Chairman, PPT gave a brief presentation on the Port  and facilities/ benefits extended to the Safai Karamcharis working in the Port. It was also resolved that the local issues will be sorted out in consultation with Chairman, PPT. Hon’ble Member expressed his satisfaction on the action initiated by PPT Head in the field of extending facilities and benefits to the Safai Karamcharis in the ambit of rules and regulations issued by Govt. Of India from time to time. After completion of meeting Hon’ble Member visited the Port Operational areas to have a clear view about the Port. After the completion of Port visit Hon’ble Member was seen off by Sr. Officers of the Port. 

Swachhta Pakhwada 2021 at Paradip Port Trust Concludes

Observance of Swachhta Pakhwada concluded at Paradip Port today on 15.112021. Shri P. L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT gave away prizes to the winners of various competitions held among the local school children to mark the occasion. The observations concluded with a play “EBE NUHEN TA KEBE NUHEN” conducted by local cultural organisation “CANMASS”. Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman along with other HODs and Dy. HODs were also present on the occasion. In the morning a Beach clean drive was undertaken by PPT in which Shri Haranadh and Shri Bose along with HoDs, employees and CISF Personnel participated with a  great enthusiasm.

             As part of  Swachhta Pakhwada, various activities like Awareness drive among workers and staff of all Departments & Divisions of PPT,  Swachhata Awareness hoardings, Swacchata Rath, Cleaning of Pump Houses and digital displays on Swachhata at important locations in the township were undertaken.

PPT observed World Diabetes Day

As part of Amrit Mahotsav, the World Diabetes Day was observed at PPT Hospital on 14.11.2021 with the theme “Access to Diabetes Care, if, not now, when".  Shri P.L. Haranadh Inaugurated the event in presence of Shri A.K. Bose, Deputy Chairman, PPT, Smt. Girija Haranadh, President, Paradip Ladies Club, Smt. Suchismita Bose, Vice-President, Paradip Ladies Club, HoDs, officers and employees. On this occasion, a walkathon was organised to create awareness about health problems among the denizens of the Port township. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT, flagged off the awareness walkathon, in which the doctors, paramedical staff of the PPT Hospital along with HoDs of the PPT, CISF personnel and general public participated with enthusiasm. IEC activities and clinic for screening of diabetes, heart disease, Orthopaedics, Hypertension, Bone MINERAL Density, HbA1C, glaucoma were also conducted on the occasion in association with AMRI, Utkal Hospital, CARE Hospital and KIDS.  Later, a seminar was organised on diabetes awareness at the Hospital Conference Hall. 140 people were screened for diabetes and its complications like neuropathy, eye problem etc. and necessary advice given.

Swachhata Pakhwada 2021 at Paradip Port Trust

 Coinciding with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations, PPT began the observance of “Swachhta Pakhwada” today. It started with a Swachhata Pledge administered by Shri P.L.Haranadh, Chairman, PPT to HoDs and Dy.HoDs at the Portico of PPT Administrative Building. Due to COVID-19 Guidelines, different Head of Offices and that staff took the pledge in their respective office premises maintaining social distancing norms. R&B Division of Engg. Deptt. undertook cleanliness activities in the surroundings of the Administrative Building.

PPT has already drawn up a detailed Action plan for the period, as part of Swachhta Pakhwada viz., awareness drive among workers and staff of all Departments & Divisions of PPT, swachhata awareness hoardings, Swacchata Rath, Cleaning of Pump Houses and digital display at important locations in the township.   Due to the COVID crisis and Unlock guidelines, social distancing is being given special emphasis in various events to be undertaken during the Pakhwada period.

Vigilance Awareness Week Concludes at Paradip Port

The valedictory function of observance of the weeklong Vigilance Awareness Week by Paradip Port Trust was held in the Officer’s Club. Shri H.S. Rout, Dy. CVO, Paradip Port Trust, while welcoming the guests, informed about the programmes undertaken by Vigilance Dept. of PPT for observation of Vigilance Awareness Week at Paradip Port.

Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest Shri P.L. Haranadh said that, Vigilance is an important organ of any organisation. Honesty and integrity are social capital which contributes to the overall economic development. As Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi says that we have to reform our system and procedures, perform better and as a result transform as an organisation, it should be reflected in PPT functioning. As India’s rank has raised many fold in the EASE OF DOING BUSINESS INDEX in recent years, easy trade across the borders has played a crucial role. The Port Sector has immensely contributed to this phenomenon. He urged all the employees present to uphold high degree of transparency and effective management to take PPT in to greater heights.

  Guest of Honour of the occasion Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPT said that instead of limiting Vigilance to a Single Week, it should be made an integral part of our service life. With the implementation of online activities the level of transparency in our functioning will increase significantly.Thereafter, prizes were given to the winners of various competitions organised among the officers and employees of PPT, local school students during this week. Shri Nihar Ojha, Asst. Engineer, Vigilance, PPT offered vote of thanks.

PPT observes Rashtriya Ekta Diwas

Paradip Port Trust observed Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) today on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, PPT offered floral tributes to Saradar Vallabhbhai Patel along with other Sr. Officials of PPT. Addressing the gathering, he said that Saradar Patel played a crucial role in integrating more than 560 princely states to the Union of India. From his life, we can learn two things – Devotion and dedication to Mother India and strong resolve to complete any task assigned. He urged all the employees to follow the same resolve and put their best efforts forward to take PPT into newer heights in coming times. Thereafter, Shri Haranadh administered Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Pledge to the officers, employees and CISF personnel present at the Gopabandhu Stadium. He also flagged off the “Run for Unity” comprising off PPT employees and CISF personnel, which culminated at the PPT Administrative Building.

In the evening, Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT took salute from the platoons participating in a march past by CISF Unit, PPT.

Press Release on Visit of Union Ministers to Paradip Port

            Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Cabinet Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary affairs and Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve, MoS  for Rail, Coal and Mines made a visit to Paradip Port Trust, today.

Shri P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Trust along with other HODs of PPT received them at the Sandhakuda Helipad and they were taken round in a Harbour visit to get first hand experience of coal loading and unloading systems in the designated berths. Chairman, PPT informed Hon’ble Minister that Paradip, at present, handles around 25 million Metric tonnes of coal by Coastal Shipping and it has 60 million tonnes capacity to coastal ship thermal coal. Shri Haranadh gave them a vivid account of various activities undertaken for augmentation of Port Capacity. One of them is EQ Terminal, which comprises of three berths for coal export, having a combined capacity of 30 MMT. This will be operational by the end of Nov’ 2021. They were also shown the operations of the current Mechanised Coal Handling Plant berths and unloading system of railway wagons i.e Rail Receival System, which has a  state of the art dry fog system. Hon’ble Ministers congratulated the PPT Chairman and his team for the excellent growth in performance. They expressed satisfaction over the Coal handling facility available at Paradip Port.

Vigilance Awareness Week begins at PPT

As per the directions from Central Vigilance Commission, Paradip Port Trust is observing Vigilance Awareness Week from 26^th October to 1^st  November 2021. Centered on the theme “Independent India@75: Self-Reliance with Integrity”, the week-long function started with administering pledge by Shri P.L. Haranadh, IRTS, Chairman, PPT to the employees, this morning adhering to the Covid-19 protocols. Following the pledge, a spot quiz contest on vigilance knowledge was held among the employees.

Further, with an aim to bring transparency and improve efficiency in the PPT billing system, Shri Haranadh launched “Online Bill processing and payment system” for contactors and vendors of PPT. With induction of the new digital platform the complete billing cycle will reduce to mere two days. Since, it is online system, so the bill processing will be done in a transparent manner with minimal manual interference.  

During week long celebrations of Vigilance Awareness Week, online debate competition among the local school students and other activities related to Vigilance Awareness are scheduled. PPT employees are also taking integrity e-pledge through PPT Website and the Website of CVC. Each department of PPT is also conducting stakeholders meet during the week for awareness on corruption issues relating to the functioning of their particular departments. Several Hoardings have been displayed in the locality for creating awareness among the public. The Valedictory function will be held on 1^st Nov. 2021, wherein the prizes will be distributed.

Press Release on launching of GatI Shakti by Hon'ble Prime Minister

Prime Minister launches PM Gati Shakti.PM also inaugurates the New Exhibition Complex at Pragati Maidan “With the resolve of Aatmnirbhar Bharat, the foundation of India for the next 25 years is being laid”. “People of India, Indian industry, Indian business, Indian manufacturers, Indian farmers are at the centre of this great campaign of Gati Shakti”. “We have not only developed a work culture of completing the projects in time but efforts are to complete the projects ahead of time”. “With the whole-of-government approach, the collective power of the government is being channelled into fulfilling the schemes”. “Gati Shakti is an extension of holistic governance”.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity here today. He also inaugurated the New Exhibition Complex at Pragati Maidan. Union Ministers, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Shri Piyush Goyal, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia and Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shri R K Singh, Chiefs Minister, Lieutenant Governors, State Ministers eminent industrialists were present on the occasion. From Industry, Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman Aditya Birla Group; Ms Malika Srinivasan, CMD Tractors and Farm Equipments; Shri TV Narendran, CEO, MD, Tata Steel and President CII and Shri Deepak Garg, Co-founder Rivigo expressed their views on the occasion. 

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister noted the auspicious day of Ashtami, the day of worshiping Shakti and said that on this auspicious occasion, speed of nation’s progress is also getting new Shakti. He said that with the resolve of aatmnirbhar Bharat, the foundation of India for the next 25 years is being laid today. PM Gati Shakti National Master plan will take the confidence of India to the pledge of aatmnirbharta. “This Masterplan will give impetus (Gati Shakti)  to 21st century India,” the Prime Minister said. 

The Prime Minister stressed that the people of India, Indian industry, Indian business, Indian manufacturers, Indian farmers are at the center of this great campaign of Gati Shakti. It will give new energy to the present and future generations of India to build the India of the 21st century and will remove the obstacles in their path.

The Prime Minister said that over the years, the signage ‘work in progress’ became the symbol of lack of trust, He said progress requires speed, eagerness and collective efforts. Today’s, 21st century India, he said,  is leaving behind old systems and practices. 

“ Today’s mantra is -

‘Work For Progress’

Wealth for Progress.

Plan for progress.

Preference for progress.

We have not only developed a work culture of completing the projects within the stipulated time frame but efforts are now being made to complete the projects ahead of time”, he added.

The Prime Minister lamented the fact that the subject of infrastructure in our country has not been a priority for most political parties. This is not even visible in their manifesto. Now the situation has come that some political parties have started criticizing the construction of necessary infrastructure for the country, the Prime Minister said. This despite the fact that it is globally accepted that the creation of quality infrastructure for Sustainable Development is a proven way, which gives rise to many economic activities and creates employment on a large scale, the Prime Minister pointed out.

The Prime Minister said that due to the wide gap between macro planning and micro implementation problems of lack of coordination, lack of advance information, thinking and working in silos are leading to hampered construction and wastage of budget.  Shakti gets divided instead of getting multiplied or enhanced, he said. PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan will address this as working on the basis of the master plan will lead to optimum utilisation of resources. 

He recalled 2014 when he took over as Prime Minister when he reviewed hundreds of stuck projects and put all projects on a single platform and tried to remove hurdles. He expressed satisfaction that now the focus is on avoiding delays due to lack of coordination.  The Prime Minister said now with the whole of government approach, the collective power of the government is being channelled into fulfilling the schemes. Because of this, many unfinished projects are being completed for decades now, he said. The Prime Minister remarked that the PM Gati Shakti Master Plan not only brings together the government process and its various stakeholders but also helps to integrate different modes of transportation. “This is an extension of holistic governance”, he said.

The Prime Minister elaborated upon the steps taken to increase the speed of infrastructure development in India. He said that the first interstate natural gas pipeline in India was commissioned in 1987. After this, till 2014, i.e. in 27 years, a 15,000 km long natural gas pipeline was built. Today, work is going on for a more than 16,000 km long gas pipeline across the country. He added that this work is targeted to be completed in the next 5-6 years. 

The Prime Minister said in the 5 years before 2014, only 1900 km of railway lines underwent doubling. In the last 7 years, more than 9 thousand kilometres of railway lines have been doubled. In the 5 years before 2014, only 3000 km of railways were electrified. In the last 7 years, more than 24000 kilometres of railway tracks have been electrified, Shri Modi informed. The Prime Minister said before 2014, the metro rail was running on only about 250 km of track. Today the metro has been expanded up to 700 km and work is going on in the 1000 km new metro route. In the five years before 2014, only 60 panchayats could be connected with optical fibre. In the last 7 years, we have connected more than 1.5 lakh gram panchayats with optical fibre.

The Prime Minister said in order to increase the income of the farmers and fishermen of the country, the infrastructure related to processing is also being expanded rapidly. In 2014, there were only 2 Mega Food Parks in the country. Today 19 Mega Food Parks are functioning in the country. Now the target is to take their number to more than 40. There were just 5 waterways in 2014, today India has 13 functional waterways. Turnaround time of the vessels at the ports has come down to 27 hours from 41 hours in 2014. He said that the country has realised the pledge of One Nation One Grid. Today India has 4.25 lakh circuit kilometre power transmission lines compared to 3 lakh circuit kilometers in 2014. 

The Prime Minister expressed the hope that with the development of quality infrastructure, India can realize the dream of becoming the business capital of India. He said our goals are extraordinary and will require extraordinary efforts. In realizing these goals, PM Gati Shakti will be the most helpful factor. Just as JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhar, Mobile) trinity revolutionized the access of government facilities to the people , PM Gati Shakti will do the same for the field of Infrastructure,  he added. 

Odisha’s Commerce and Transport Minister Hon'ble Shri Padmanabha Behera accompanied by Shri Bhupinder Singh Poonia, MD, IPICOL and ED, IDCO in presence of Sri P. L. Haranadh, IRTS, Chairman, Paradip Port Trust and senior officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and NHAI joined the virtual launching event of PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan from IPICOL Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.

Shri P.L. Haranadh took over the post of Chairman, PPT

Shri P.L. Haranadh took over the post of Chairman, PPT today. He is an Indian Railway Traffic Service Officer of 1994 batch. He hails from Andhra Pradesh. He studied MSc & Ph.D from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi. During his 27 years of service, he worked in Indian Railways for 22 years and 5 years in Ministry of Shipping. Under the leadership of Shri Haranadh, PPT expects to reach new heights in terms of Cargo Handling. Soon after his joining while interacting with the media, he emphasized on making PPT the No.1 Major Port in the country during his upcoming tenure. He solicited sincere cooperation from all the stakeholders like employees, Unions, Customers, Port users, Stevedores, Steamer Agent, Unions, Govt .Machinery etc. for realising the Mission No.1. He stressed on prioritising completion of various upcoming projects at PPT, including the much ambitious Western Dock project at the earliest.  

          In his illustrious career in the Railways, Shri Haranadh worked as Sr.Divisional Operations Manager, Raipur Division and Chakradharpur Division. Dy. Chief Operations Manager of South Eastern Railway & South Central Railway and Chief Operations Manager (Marketing), East Coast Railway. Before joining PPT, he was working as Chief Freight Transportation Manager of East Coast Railway. He has rich experience in rail transportation, especially in freight operations, business development and traffic planning.

  In recognition of many meritorious works, he received National Award for outstanding management in 2002 and in 2005 from Ministry of Railways.

 He also worked as Deputy Chairman of Visakhapatnam Port from 2015-2020. He was instrumental in developing innovative marketing solutions like total logistics solutions to customers to attract cargoes like coal, containers etc. During his tenure, he contributed to overall growth of Visakhapatnam Port and the Port scaled up to 3^rd position among major Ports.

Swachhta Pakhwada 2021 at Paradip Port Trust Concludes

Observance of Swachhta Pakhwada concluded at Paradip Port today on 30.09.2021. Shri AK Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT gave away prizes to the winners of debate completion held among the local school children to mark the occasion. The observations concluded with a play “EBE NUHEN TA KEBE NUHEN” conducted by local cultural organisation “CANMASS”. Dr. Prahallad Panda, CMO and Secretary-in-charge along with other HODs and Dy. HODs were also present on the occasion. As part of  Swachhta Pakhwada various activities like Awareness drive among workers and staff of all Departments & Divisions of PPT,  Swachhata Awareness hoardings, Swacchata Rath, Cleaning of Pump Houses and digital display at important locations in the township were undertaken.

Paradip Port observed the 44th World Maritime Day

With the theme,  “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future”  Paradip Port observed the 44th World Maritime Day, today. Unlike National Maritime Day, there is no fixed date of celebration of World Maritime Day. But, generally it is celebrated on last week of September every year. It depends on the individual Governments to decide a suitable date for celebration during last week of September and DG Shipping, Govt. of India has decided and directed to celebrate World Maritime Day on 28th September 2021 in India for this year.

On this occasion, at PPT, Capt. AC Sahu, Harbour Master hoisted the World Maritime Day flag at the Marine Site office in presence of other Sr. Officials of Marine Dept. and students of Orissa Maritime Academy. Due to threat of spreading  of COVID-19, the celebration of World Maritime Day was conducted in a restricted manner this year.

The significance of this day is to emphasize the importance of International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the maritime sector and to highlight its contribution towards Maritime Safety, Maritime Security and Marine Environment. In simple manner, it can be explained that World Maritime Day is celebrated for carrying out commercial sea transport in a safe, secured and environmental friendly manner for the economic growth of the world.

The first celebration of World Maritime Day was done on 17 March 1978 to mark the occasion of enforcing first convention of IMO in 1958 and since then every year, during last week of September, the World Maritime Day is observed globally.

Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav : Free multi-speciality health camp was held by PPT at Gadakujanga, Jagatsinghpur

As part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, marking the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, Paradip Port Trust, today conducted a Mega Health Camp at Gadakujanga, in association with the Gadakujanga Youth Organization. Shri AK Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT inaugurated the event in presence of Shri Samapad Kumar Barik, Sarapanch, Gadakujanga Panchayat, Smt. Suchismita Bose, Vice President, Paradip Ladies Club and other local dignitaries.

Dr. Prahallad Panda, CMO, PPT Hospital along with doctors and suppport paramedics of Paradip Port Trust Hospital treated around 1000 patients, conducting ECG, and rapid Glucose test. 

It is organised under the corporate social responsibility of the Paradip Port Trust.

The Medical Camp was much needed for the people in villages with limited access to the hospitals, especially in the context of COVID 19 Pandemic. Camp was organised under strict adherence to the COVID appropriate behaviour. 

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chairman, PPT expressed his concern about the health of people and role of industries under CSR, and assured more such Health Camps in the surrounding areas. He also stressed on villagers being aware about the importance of good hygiene, social distancing and wearing of masks.

Webinar on “Green and Safe Port”

The objective was to promote cooperation among various stakeholders for a safe, sustainable and green Port. Shri A.K.Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT in his inaugural address, stressed on making PPT a resilient, efficient and green Port. Apart from highlighting various green initiatives undertaken by the Port Authority, he appealed everybody to ensure at clean and green environment for our future generations. Shri S.K.Das, CME in his welcome address, emphasized on a green environment, inside the Port prohibited area as well as in the township. Among the main speakers of the occasion, Shri Chandan Panigrahi, Dy.CEE highlighted the green initiative of the Port like installation of Rooftop Solar Power Plant, Cold Ironing -Shore to Ship power supply, Induction of e-vehicle on hire for Port Trust work. Shri Deepak Rath, Dy.CME narrated about execution of State-of-the-Art Dry Fog and Plain water dust suppression system to provide workers a safe & environment friendly work place at MCHP. Shri Moloy Dasgupta, CE mentioned about implementation of three Sewerage Treatment Plants, a two kilometre long Net Barrier, Road Sweeping Machine, Truck/Vehicle Tyre washing system and plantation of more than one lakh trees in the Port surroundings to keep the township clean and green. Captain Amit Kumar, Pilot highlighted about the Oil pollution response equipment facility in the Port to prevent any untoward oil spillage in the sea. Shri P.P.Saha, Executive Engineer(Elect.), PED offered the vote of thanks. 

Swachhata Pakhwada 2021 at Paradip Port Trust

Coinciding with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations, PPT began the observance of “Swachhta Pakhwada” today. It started with a Swachhata Pledge administered by Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT to HoDs and Dy.HoDs at the Portico in front of PPT Administrative Building. Due to COVID-19 Guidelines, different Head of Offices and that staff took pledge in their respective office premises maintaining social distancing norms. R&B Division of Engg. Deptt. undertook cleanliness activities in the surroundings of the Administrative Building

 PPT has already drawn up a detailed Action plan for the period, as part of  Swachhta Pakhwada viz., awareness drive among workers and staff of all Departments & Divisions of PPT, swachhata awareness hoardings, Swacchata Rath, Cleaning of Pump Houses and digital display at important locations in the township.Due to the COVID crisis and Unlock guidelines, social distancing is being given special emphasis in various events to be undertaken during the Pakhwada period.

पारादीप पोर्ट ट्रस्‍ट में मनाया गया राजभाषा दिवस, 2021

               आजादी का अमृत महोत्सव समारोह के साथ, पारादीप पोर्ट ट्रस्ट द्वारा राजभाषा दिवस मनाया गया । श्री ए.के.बोस, उपाध्यक्ष, पीपीटी ने बोर्ड कक्ष में विभागाध्यक्षों, उप विभागाध्यक्षों और अन्य वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों को राजभाषा शपथ दिलाई । इसी तरह कार्यालयों में संबंधित नियंत्रण प्राधिकारी द्वारा राजभाषा शपथ भी दिलाई गई । श्री एन.के.पटनायक, वरिष्ठ कल्याण अधिकारी, पीपीटी के मार्गदर्शन में पीपीटी कर्मचारियों के बीच राजभाषा हिन्‍दी का उपयोग करते हुए रचनात्मक लेखन पर एक प्रतियोगिता आयोजित की गई । गौरतलब है कि राजभाषा दिवस हर साल 14 सितंबर को मनाया जाता है क्योंकि संविधान सभा द्वारा 14 सितंबर 1949 को हिन्‍दी को देश की राजभाषा के रूप में अपनाया गया था । अपनाए गए दिन से ही सभी केंद्र सरकार के कार्यालयों में राजभाषा हिन्‍दी का उपयोग किया जा रहा है और हिन्‍दी देश तथा विदेशों के लोगों के बीच अपनी सांस्कृतिक विरासत और मूल्यों का प्रसार कर रही है ।

RAJBHASA DIWAS 2021 OBSERVED AT PPT

Coinciding with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostav celebrations, Rajbhasa Diwas was observed by the Paradip Port Trust. Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPT administered the Rajbhasha pledge to HoDs, Dy.HoDs and other senior officials in the Board Room. Similarly, the Rajbhasha pledge was also administered in the offices by respective controlling authority. Under the guidance of Shri N.K.Patnaik, Sr. Welfare Officer, PPT, a competition on creative writing using Rajbhasa was held among the PPT employees. Rajbhasa Diwas is being celebrated on 14^th September every year as Rajbhasa was adopted by the Constitution as the Official language of the country on 14^th September 1949. From the day of adoption Rajbhasha is being used in all Central Govt. offices and spreading its cultural heritage and values among the people of the country and abroad.

PPT aims to boost EXIM trade with installation of New Container Scanner

Under Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) initiative, a Mobile X-Ray Container Scanning System (MXCS) has been installed by Paradip Port near the PICT Terminal at a cost of Rs. 30 Cr. for the purpose of reducing physical examination and dwell time of containers at the Port. After successful Trial Run of the MXCS, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has issued license on 27th August, 2021 to Paradeep Customs for its regular operation.  The Scanner can scan up to 25 containers per hour enabling the Trade to directly move out their containers with upgrade security and zero hassle. This will also facilitate movement of unshredded metallic scrap materials in containers through the Port to meet the long standing requirement of hinterland Industries. The operation of the Scanner is expected to boost the container volume at Paradip Port as PPT is making  continuous efforts to reduce the logistic cost to help the EXIM trade and is in line with Government’s Ease of Doing Business initiative. While the shipping lines like RCL, ZIM International Shipping Line and Shreyas Shipping are calling the Port regularly, other major liners are likely to follow considering the upgraded facilities and hefty discount offered by the Port.

SPORTS TRAINEES SELECTION CONDUCTED BY PARADIP PORT SPORTS COUNCIL

Under the Sports Trainees scheme of Major Port Sports Control Board, Paradip Port Sports Council organized sports trainees selection in different categories such as Volleyball, Cricket, Football & Athletic from 9^th September to 10^th September 2021 at Gopabandhu Stadium, Paradip Port. In this selection trial, 369 participants in above categories participated. The selected players of above categories will undergo training under Paradip Port Sports Council for a period of 3 years.

The entire selection process was conducted by a committee headed by Shri D.N. Sondhi, President, Paradip Port Sports Council as the Chairman of the committee, while Dr. Durga Prasad Sethy, Working President of the Sports Council acted as the convenor of the committee. Among others, Sri Ranjan Rashmi Beura, Secretary, Sprots Council and Shri Rabindra Kumar Das, Advisor  Sports and Football Coach, Shri Niroj Kumar Pattnaik, Sr. Welfare officer, Sri Sanjay Kumar Das, Volleyball Coach and Working President, Odisha Volleyball Association, Sri B.B.C.C.Mohapatra of Odisha Cricket Association as the member of the committee conducted the selection trials. The Member Technical of the concerned game, Officials of Gopabandhu Kreeda Sansad, volunteers from different sports categories extended their whole hearted support to conduct the selection trial successfully. The entire selection procedure was conducted by obeying Covid guidelines as framed by the Government.

PPT Celebrates Independence Day 2021

Independence Day was celebrated by Paradip Port Trust Authority with a great passion following the COVID-19 guidelines. Shri AK Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT unfurled the National Flag and inspected the parade in which 3 contingents of CISF, participated.

Addressing the gathering, he said that during the fiscal, till July 2021, the Port has handled 39.60 MMT Cargo by exhibiting a positive growth of 14.32% in comparison to same period of last fiscal. The Port has handled the highest ever cargo of 114.55 Million Metric Tonnes in the last fiscal and improving its performance year-on-year. In the month of March’ 2021 the Port has also handled highest ever monthly total of 11.64 Million Metric Tonnes, as against the previous record of 11.17 Million Metric Tonnes in January’ 21 in the current fiscal. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and just 3 days after Cyclone YAAS, a record 30 shipping movements have been carried out from May 29th to 30th morning.

Each Deptt. has contributed in this glorious journey. Finance Deptt. has gone for meticulous planning of our resources. They are undertaking a regular monitoring of funds, so that money fetches even 0.1% of extra interest.  CISF Unit has done a marvellous job by providing a proactive security network, during COVID times for smooth running of Port. More than 21,000 vaccinations have been provided by PPT till date. 1,705 Nos. of COVID Antigen tests conducted at Paradip Port Trust. A total of 267 no. of COVID patients treated at Paradip Port Trust Hospital and 15 nos. patients stayed at COVID Care Centre. The Janani Surakshya Yojana has been started in PPT Hospital w.e.f 25.05.2016. 15 nos. of beneficiaries have received incentive up to 31.07.2021. World Health Day 2021 was observed at PPT Hospital in which 206 numbers of people screening.

The Port has been discharging its commitment to the society by taking up several CSR activities. Rs.8.00 Crores has been extended to PMCARES Fund for COVID-19.  PPT is a glowing example of how the Central and State Govt. have put their combined efforts for meeting the Covid challenge. PPT Authority has signed MoU with Odisha Govt. for dedicated Covid Care Hospital, which is functional at Biju Yatri Niwas, Paradip. PPT has sanctioned Rs. 2.00 Cr under CSR. PPT has provided an ICU Ambulance and Oxygen Concentrators for the Mahanga and Salipur Assembly Constituency of Cuttack district. PPT also plans to provide one Oxygen plant facility and one more Ambulance to Pattamudai in Kendrapara District. A Mega Health Camp was conducted on 28.03.2021 at  Balipadia Village of Jajapur District. 100 Patients examined and free Medicine were given to them under CSR Scheme.

A 30 bedded Covid Care Center is functioning at the "Port Club", for PPT employees. 6,000 Nose masks and a good no. of sanitizers have been freely distributed among employees as well as contract workers of Paradip in this year. As PPT tries to maintain operational efficiency, it is also striving to be efficient in keeping the port spick & span through routine sanitization and by maintaining social distance norms. Dedicated teams regularly carry out disinfection activities inside port prohibited area besides ensuring mandatory use of face masks by all the personnel. PPT has also been undertaking disinfectant fumigation in the Port Township, PPT Administrative Building, Quarantine Centres and PPT Hospital by deploying Mist Cannons. During Cyclone “YAAS”, the Port took active steps to ensure uninterrupted availability of electricity and drinking water.

Cautioning everybody about the COVID-19, he asked everybody to take all possible precautions so that we are able to move beyond this Pandemic in the times to come. He urged all to overcome vaccine hesitancy and get inoculated.

Thereafter, Shri Bose awarded prizes to school children, who have secured top 3 positions in patriotic poem recitation and debate competitions, which were held as a part of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations”. Employees and Covid warriors of the Medical & CISF Deptt., who have excelled in their respective work area, were also felicitated on the occasion.

PPT provides food materials for the needy

As a part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', an initiative of the Government of India, to commemorate 75 years of Independence, members of Gopabandhu Kreeda Sansad led by Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT brought a pickup load of food materials, grocery, utensils, slippers and clothings, sanitisers, masks and distributed among the needy at the Balijhara Old Age Home and Leprosy Colony. On this occasion, Shri Bose said, “PPT’s guiding principles are to serve and help the needy and downtrodden. To accomplish our aims and objectives we initiate and implement many humanitarian projects for children and adults.” Shri D.N. Sondhi, President, GKS, Dr. D.P. Sethy, Working President, Shri Rabi Das, Advisor, Shri Ranjan Rashmi Beura, Secretary, GKS, Shri AC Sahu, Harbour Master and other officials of GKS and PPT also participated in this noble cause.

Inauguration of the Loading Operation on Maiden Voyage of Coastal Shipping Service “Green Freight Corridor-2” from Cochin Port to Beypore and Azhikkal Ports

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has accorded high priority to building greater synergies between the Major Ports and Non-Major Ports in order to promote coastal trade and to provide sustainable, cost-effective and efficient Intermodal & Multimodal customer solutions. By doing so, the Ministry aims to provide seaborne connectivity to the trade and industries in the hinterland, reduce congestion on the road and rail besides bringing down logistics cost.

As a step in this direction, the Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sri Mansukh Mandaviya today inaugurated the loading operation on the maiden voyage of Coastal Shipping Service “Green Freight Corridor-2” from Cochin Port to Beypore and Azhikkhal Ports.

Green Freight Corridor Service is operated by Round The Coast Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, a JM Baxi Group Company. This service will connect Kochi-Beypore-Azhikkal, and later Kollam port will be added to this service. M/s JM Baxi is the general agent for the service. 

The vessel will call at Cochin Port twice a week and will feeder exim and coastal boxes to the ports of Beypore and Azhikkal. 

The commodities that would be shipped would include Rice, Wheat, Salt, Construction Material,  Cement, etc. unloaded at Cochin from Gujarat. On the return leg, the Operators are targetting to move exim cargo such as Plywood, Footwear, Textiles, Coffee, etc. Similarly the imported Cashew containers would also be moved from Cochin to Kollam at a later stage.

In order to promote coastal shipping of containers, Cochin Port is offering 50% rebate in vessel related charges for the River Sea vessels. Similarly, the Government of Kerala  has also offered an operational incentive  @10% above the road transportation cost as per the NATPC study report  for coastal shipping in the minor ports in the state for a period of one year from 23.01.2021.  These hand-holding measures would help the sustenance of the service during the initial period and would encourage introduction of more services of this kind on regular basis.

This service is expected to bring about a marked modal shift of transportation of containers and ease the congestion on the road and reduce carbon footprint. This also augurs well to connect the hinterlands of northern Kerala, particularly the exim trade in Calicut  and Kannur region who will gain direct access to Vallarpadam ICTT by sea mode saving cost and transit time. 

Azadi ka Amrit Mahostav at PPT.

Union Minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya chairs 18th Meeting of the Maritime State Development Council (MSDC)

Addressing the council, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya said that the objective of the Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) is to develop a national plan for the development of the maritime sector beneficial for both states and the centre and to adopt best practices for the sector. He further said that the development of the country depends on the development of the states and MSDC is the best example of cooperative federalism. "In a scattered way we can't develop, united we can achieve", the Minister added.

Stressing on the need for the 'Indian Port Bill 2021', the Minister requested state governments to see the Indian Port Bill as a development issue and not as a political issue. He highlighted that the ‘Indian Port Bill 2021’ will facilitate to have optimum management and utilization of the coastline by way of participation by both the Union Government and Maritime States/Union Territories. He assured the states that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways will welcome all the suggestions of the states to develop a comprehensive port bill. 

The Minister of MoPSW said, "The 18th Maritime State Development Council Meeting today has discussed very significant issues pertaining to the overall progress of the maritime sector. Both Central Government and State Governments will jointly work on the development of the maritime sector including several non-functional ports. Our growth aspiration, as visioned by our Prime Minister, need collective actions in a time-bound manner and MSDC is an active platform to discuss these matters’’The key items discussed during the meeting are Indian Port bill 2021, National Maritime Heritage Museum (NMHC), Rail and Road connectivity with Ports, Floating Jetties for Marine Operations and Sea Plane Operations, Sagarmala Projects and National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) projects.

Indian Port Bill 2021: A step towards accelerating India’s Port Development

In FY 2020, the traffic handled at Indian ports is about 1.2 billion MT, which is expected to increase to 2.5 billion MT by 2030. On the other hand, only a few ports in India are having deeper draft which can handle capsize vessels. In addition, there are around 100 non-functional ports distributed across the coast of India. The ever-increasing size of ships mandates to have deeper draft ports and indeed mega ports need to be developed. Similarly, the non-functional ports also need to be prioritized and developed.

A national-level integrated approach is required to augment the existing ports or to develop new ports in an efficient and sustainable manner which in turn will reduce the freight costs to a greater extent and improve the trade growth. The national-level integrated port planning is also highlighted in various report including 'The World Bank's Port Reform book, UNCTAD's ‘Handbook for Planners in Developing Countries’ etc.

MSDC will advise on the planning of all ports including Major Ports. In addition, several conventions pertaining to safety, security and prevention of pollution are incorporated in IP Bill 2021 for implementation of all requirements stipulated in such conventions by all ports.

NMHC – India's first maritime heritage complex

National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is to be developed as a world-class museum dedicated to the legacy of Maritime Heritage of India, in an area of about 350 acres at Lothal, Gujarat. This maritime heritage complex would be developed as an international tourist destination with a maritime museum, lighthouse museum, maritime theme parks, amusement parks, etc.

One of the key attractions of NMHC is that it would have a pavilion for each coastal states and union territories to showcase the maritime heritage of the specific states and union territories. During the meeting, the coastal states and UTs were requested to take up the development of their respective pavilion.

Enhancing Port Connectivity

The upgradation of port connectivity is one of the critical enablers for ports, and MoPSW through its key initiative Sagarmala Programme emphasizes port connectivity. MoPSW has taken up 98 port-road connectivity projects worth Rs. 45,051 cr. with various implementation agencies like MoRTH, Major Ports, Maritime Boards, and State Road Development Companies, of which 13 projects are completed and 85 projects are in various stages of development and implementation. Similarly, 91 port-rail connectivity projects worth Rs. 75,213 Cr. have been taken up by MoPSW with Indian Railways, Major Ports, and Maritime Boards, of which 28 projects are completed and 63 projects are in various stages of development and implementation.

To address the issues in funding and for the projects that are not suitable to develop under PPP mode, it is suggested that a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) may be formed between state government, central government and private players for which interest from the state governments/UTs is requested during the meeting.

Floating Jetties for Marine Operations & Seaplane Services

Floating jetties are widely used in other countries. The floating jetties have unique advantages in comparison with the convention jetties, like cost-effectiveness, speedy construction, minimal environmental impact, flexibility to expand and relocate, suitable for the locations with high tidal variation etc.

National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC), IIT Madras was given the mandate to prepare the Detailed Project Report for developing more than 150 floating jetties across Indian Coastline and the work is in progress. It is proposed to utilize the floating jetties majorly for fishing harbours/fish landing centers, and seaplane operations.

The MoPSW informed that the states/UTs are encouraged to explore using floating jetties/platforms for their project and requested states/UTs to identify more locations for developing floating jetties. Projects may be considered for funding from Sagarmala after the due approval of the proposal.

Strengthening Indian Infrastructure through Sagarmala Programme and National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)

The MoPSW has various infrastructure projects that are undertaken under Sagarmala Programme and National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP).

The MoPSW proposed to develop 802 projects worth investment of Rs.5.53 lakh crore for implementation under the Sagarmala Programme. Out of which, 168 projects worth Rs. 87,000 crore have been completed and 242 projects worth Rs. 2.18 lakh crore are under implementation. Similarly, MoPSW is handling 123 projects amounting to Rs. 1.28 Lakh cr. under NIP initiated in 2020. In addition, there are 1226 projects under Sagartat Samriddhi Yojana for coast led prosperity, out of which 192 projects are under implementation.

The MoPSW requested the coastal states/UTs to expedite the implementation of the projects where the state government is the implementation agency, and funding support can be considered for central funding via grants from MoPSW or via equity funding through Sagarmala Development Company Ltd (SDCL).

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of MoPSW emphasized the pertinent and urgent need for infrastructure development be it port augmentation, multi-model connectivity through rail/road infrastructure and various project initiatives undertaken through the Sagarmala, National Infrastructure Pipeline, and Sagartat Samriddhi Yojana.

The meeting was attended by Shri. Ahmed Devarkoil, Minister of Ports, Kerala, Thiru E.V.Velu, Minister for Public Works, Tamil Nadu, Shri Aslam Sheikh, Minister of Textile, Fisheries and Port Development, Maharashtra, Shri Michael Lobo, Minister for Science and Technology, Waste Management, RDA and Ports, Goa, Shri. Mekapati Goutham Reddy, Minister for Industries, Commerce, Information Technology, Andhra Pradesh, Shri. Padmanabh Behera, Planning & Convergence, Commerce & Transport, Odisha, Admiral D K Joshi (Retd), Lieutenant Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands along with the representatives from the States. The meeting was also attended by representatives and officials from allied Ministries.

MSDC Background: MSDC is an apex advisory body for the development of the Maritime sector and aims to ensure integrated development of Major and non-Major Ports. The MSDC was constituted in May 1997 to assess in consultation with State Governments, the future development of existing and new Minor Ports by the respective Maritime States either directly or through captive users and private participation. Further, MSDC also monitors the development of minor ports, captive ports and private ports in the Maritime States with a view to ensure their integrated development with Major Ports and to assess the requirements of other infrastructure requirements like roads/rail/IWT and make suitable recommendations to the concerned Ministers.

International Day of Yoga observed at PPT

The 7^th International Day of Yoga was observed by Paradip Port Trust with great enthusiasm on 21.06.2021. Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp in presence of Shri T.K. Hazra Choudhary, Sr. Dy. Secretary, PPT, Shri S.K. Sethi, Honorary Secretary of the Paradip Centre of Art of Living and Shri Tapas Ranjan Pati , experienced faculty of the Art of Living. The one hour Yoga session held virtually has seen participation of 120 participants  from PPT employees and their family members. As the entire nation is going through COVID-19 pandemic, the practice of Yoga has emerged as one of the most powerful way to ensure our holistic wellbeing. The CISF Unit of PPT conducted separate programmes inside the campus as well as at its barracks. Banners, hoardings and Electronic Display Boards highlighted the significance of the observation of International Day of Yoga to build awareness among the local populace. Employees also joined Yoga practice session held at the New Kalyan Mandap. They were of the view that, instead of limiting the practice to just one day, they will practice Yoga  throughout the year as it remains a ray of hope during COVID times.

Bhumi Pujan of Respiratory Infection Isolation ward at PPT Hospital

As the second wave of COVID-19 sweeps through the state, in order to provide better treatment to the patient, Bhumi Pujan of a separate Respiratory Infection Isolation ward was conducted yesterday at PPT Hospital premises by Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT in presence of Dr. P. Panda, CMO, PPT Hospital, Shri Moloy Dasgupta, Chief Enginner, PPT. Other Doctors, officials & employees of the Hospital and Eningeering Department of PPT were also present on the occasion. TMILL, a joint venture company of Tata steel, which is into providing of logistics services, donated 2 Oxygen Concentrators to the PPT Hospital, which will boost the existing critical care facilities available in the Hospital.  

Online progamme on Nutrition, Exercise and Yoga held at PPT

 Under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav programmes, a two days online programme on Nutrition, Exercise and Yoga kicked off this morning at PPT in association with the Paradip Centre of the Art of Living. Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT inaugurated the event in presence of Shri T.K. Hazra Choudhary, Sr. Dy. Secretary, PPT, Shri S.K. Sethi, Honorary Secretary of the Paradip Centre of Art of Living and Shri Tapas Ranjan Pati , experienced faculty of the Art of Living. As the nation is going through difficult times due to COVID 19 cases, the two days progarmme, each of one hour duration is also giving specially focusing on COVID care for the sake of PPT employees and their families. The different progarmmes include Nutrition, Immunity Boost and Prevention, Home Isolation Care and Post-COVID rehabilitation.

PPT in the aftermath of Cyclone Yaas

Ensured 24x7 Electricity and Water Supply.

1500 evacuees housed in Cyclone Shelters and inmates of local Leprosy Colony and Old Age Home were provided with cooked food, bottled drinking water and Nose Masks.

Trees and branches were cleared from roads to make way for traffic by 1200 Hrs.

Despite rainfall of 361.4 mm from May 24- 26, 2021 (morning), waterlogging is minimal.

No major damage to Port infrastructure, as adequate precautions were taken.

Shipping operations to start from tomorrow morning. Truck operations started at 1500 hours. Railway operations will start from today evening.

PPT GEARS UP FOR CYCLONE ‘YAAS’

As the Cyclonic storm ‘YAAS’ is expected to trigger heavy downpour accompanied by high velocity wind in the locality, "PPT Administration is fully geared up to meet any eventuality”, said Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, PPT while interacting with PPT officials over VC. The drains in the locality have been cleared on a war footing in order to avoid any possible water-logging. Four teams of PPT with chain saws and Pay loader are ready to function round the clock during the cyclone to clear the roads due to possible uprooting of trees. As precautionary measures, no inward movement of Ships has been permitted from 2200 Hrs of May 23, 2021. Currently, the Port has planned only outward movement of Ships which is expected to be completed by 1200 Hrs of May 24, 2021. All operations will be wound up and the Port is being cleared of all personnel by 25th morning. All vessels at Paradip Anchorage have been asked to pick up anchor and move to sea.

All Coast Guard Vessels and DCI Dredger XX inside harbour have also been instructed to move out to sea. DCI dredger Aquarius, DCI dredger XVIII, DCI dredger Ganga and both the OSL cutter dredgers in North basin will be secured properly for extreme heavy weather. Other crafts and Tugs which are going to stay inside harbour will be manned round the clock for attending their moorings with main engines ready for operation at any time.

Equipment and Machineries at Under Construction areas will be secured. Unloaders at PPL and IFFCO berths are to be securely fastened. Loaders at MCHP, IOHP, JSW and EBTPL berths, Harbour mobile Cranes at all berths including PICT berth will also be secured. Loading Arms, Gangway at North Oil Jetty & South Oil Jetty will be secured.

Tankers from SPM have already been cast off after flushing of pipelines.  A Control Room is functioning round the clock at Gate No. 4 from 24th morning, till the cyclone passes and normalcy is restored. A medical team along with Ambulance will be available to meet any medical emergencies.

Five Cyclone shelters have been activated, where around 2,000 people from local slums and low lying areas will be accommodated with proper social distancing norms. They will be provided with dry ration, cooked food items, drinking water, face masks and sanitizers. The cyclone shelters will also be equipped with Gensets for uninterrupted electric supply.

In conforming with the Chief Minister’s message, Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPT has stressed on zero loss of life during the upcoming natural calamity.

Anti-Terrorism Day

Anti-Terrorism Day was observed at PPT, with the pledge being administered by Shri Ashok Kumar Sahu, Sr. Dy. FA in the Lobby of PPT Administrative Building. Keeping in view the safety of participants amid COVID-19 pandemic, officials/employees also took the pledge solemnly in their rooms/offices itself. The objective behind observance of this day is to wean away the youth from terrorism and the cult of violence by highlighting the sufferings of common people and showing as to how it is prejudicial to the national interest.

PPT receives 59 medical oxygen cylinders from Singapore

Paradip Port Trust handled 24 medical oxygen cylinders (40-litre capacity each), along with 5 medical oxygen cylinder and oxygen regulator-humidifiers, brought in by MV Anna Maria from Singapore this evening for distribution among various state-run hospitals in Jagatsinghpur district. Dr. Kanhu Charan Dhir, ADM, Paradip has received the oxygen cylinders on behalf of Government of Odisha.

Additionally, Paradip International Cargo Terminal Private Limited (PICTPL) handled 30 medical oxygen cylinders (10-litre capacity each), sent by the shipping line Louis Dreyfus Company Freight Asia from Singapore in MV Glory Amsterdam for PPT Hospital. In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Steel Authority of India along with Paradip Customs have provided necessary assistance in this noble endeavour.

This is the first time medical oxygen is being handled at PPT.

Rs 110 crore ROPAX Jetty Project to come up on river Dhamara in Odisha.Now travel time will reduce from 6 hours to just an hour

Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) has accorded administrative approval for sanction of Rs 50.30 crore for developing all-weather ROPAX (Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger)Jetty and allied infrastructure connecting Kaninali in Bhadrak district &Talachua in Kendrapara district, Odisha under the Sagarmala initiative. The Government of Odisha will fund another 50% cost of the project.

The total capital cost of the project is Rs 110.60 crore which includes construction of RO-PAX Jetty at Kaninali and Talachua, utility infrastructures such as parking area development, navigational aids and dredging.

This project will reduce travel time for passengers from 6 hours by road to 1 hour by waterway. The development of the existing ghat with all-weather ROPAX jetties is being carried out with intent of accommodating boats, launches and other vessels as well as to ply vessel having capacity to carry 10 light Motor vehicles, 20 Motorbikes along with 60 passengers at a time, simultaneously ensuring safety of all passengers and vehicles.The project will facilitate indirect employment opportunities to locals around Dhamra river and reduce road distance of ~200 km from Talachua to Dhamra.                            

Kaninali in Bhadrak district and Talachua in Kendrapada district, are located on the northern and southern banks of River Dhamra respectively. The people of Talachua and nearby villages largely depend upon Dhamra port for their livelihood, which is approximately 4 kms from Kaninali Ghat. Since there is no connectivity through roads, the local population depends upon passenger ferries at ghats of Kaninali and Talachua to cross the river (a stretch of 7 Km). Currently, Number of passenger vehicles move through private boats without safety and passengers face difficulty in embarking and disembarking from launches on an everyday basis. This project will enhance the safety of passengers and vehicles with state-of-the-art utility infrastructure. The connectivity will increase the commercial and business activities and uplift the socio-economic status of the surrounding region.  

PPT observed Ambedkar Jayanti

Paradip Port Trust (PPT) celebrated the Birth Anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. B R Ambedkar strictly following COVID-19 guidelines on 14th April 2021. The PPT fraternity led by Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT including HODs, Senior officers, employees and representatives of Paradip Port Trust SC & ST Employees Welfare Associations, offered floral tributes at the statue of Dr Ambedkar in the morning.

National Fire Service Week commences at CISF Fire Wing, PPT

National Fire Service Week with the theme "Maintenance of fire safety equipment is key to mitigate fire hazards" kicked off this morning at the Main Fire Station premises of Gate No. 4 in PPT. The programme was commenced by paying homage to the firemen who sacrificed their lives in the Victoria Dock Yard explosion occurred years back in 1944, by Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT. Addressing the gathering, he called for sincerity in the part of CISF Fire Wing to prevent any untoward fire incident. For this fire fighting equipments should be properly maintained, so that minor fire doesn’t snowball into any major incident. Capt. A.K. Mohaptra, Dy. Conservator, PPT and Ex  Commandant of PPT CISF Unit, Shri Madhabananda Biswal also shared their valuable experiences in dealing fire scenario. Shri Dhyan Singh, Dy. Commandant, CISF Unit, PPT compeered the programmed and read out about various promotional events the CISF Fire Wing, PPT will undertake in coming week to create awareness about fire hazards in the locality. 

PPT Observed World Health Day

The World Health Day was observed at PPT Hospital on 07.04.2021 with the theme “Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone”. On this occasion, a walkathon was organised to create awareness about health problems among the denizens of the Port Township. Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPT, flagged off the awareness walkathon, especially on COVID-19, in which the doctors, paramedical staff of the PPT Hospital along with HoDs of the PPT, CISF personnel and general public participated with enthusiasm. IEC activities and clinic for screening of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Orthopaedics, Hypertension, Bone MINERAL Density, HbA1C, glaucoma, neurology and urology were also conducted on the occasion.

Later, a seminar was organised on cancer awareness at the Hospital Conference Hall under the supervision of Dr. Prahlad Panda, Chief Medical Officer, PPT, in association with Panda Curie HOSPITAL, Cuttack. 206 people were screened for different diseases and necessary advice given.

Water taxis and ROPAX Ferries will be part of Mumbai’s transportation soon

Water taxi on 12 routes and ROPAX services on 4 new routes will start soon

Details of 12 routes for Water Taxi operations:

Opening up of 4 new routes of ROPAX Ferries and 12 routes of Water taxis is going to prove a big boon for daily commuters of Mumbai. It will result in a pollution-free, peaceful and time-saving journey as well as reduce the travel cost and carbon footprint significantly. It would also cater for the requirements of increasing number of tourists and commuters at various stretches of Mumbai city.

Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State (I/C) for Ports, Shipping and Waterways stated that operationalization of new waterways routes is a big step towards Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of harnessing waterways and integrating them with the economic development of the country.It will open up new opportunities and avenues to create an ecosystem and network of such ROPAX services and Water Taxi services at numerous other routes in all coastal states.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways celebrates 58th National Maritime Day-2021

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways celebrated 58th National Maritime Day in commemoration of the maiden voyage of the first Indian flag merchant vessel ‘S.S.LOYALTY’ (Owned by M/s. Scindia Steam Navigation Company), from Mumbai to London, on the 5th April ,1919. The theme of National Maritime Day is ‘Sustainable Shipping beyond COVID-19’ on the lines of ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ initiative of the Government of India.

On the occasion of the celebration of the National Maritime Day, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State(I/C) for Ports, Shipping and Waterways congratulated the maritime community and appreciated their hard work, zeal and courage and role played in the times of the COVID pandemic. Shri Mandaviya said that Maritime India Vision-2030, recently launched by Prime Minister of India, is the comprehensive vision of the next decade for the maritime the sector of India and with a focused approach, the Indian maritime sector will be strong, technologically advanced and Aatma Nirabhar soon.

Shri Mandaviya concluded with a positive note and said, ‘India is changing, India is racing ahead, New India is being built like we were the Maritime leader in the past, India will lead the world again through the maritime sector’.

Shri Mandaviya launched the e-magazine as a souvenir for the 58th National Maritime Day and presented awards instituted by National Maritime Day Celebration Committee, which is headed by Director General of Shipping.

Dr Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said that the Maritime community has played animportant role in the CoVID times and added that Ministry is working tirelessly working towards bringing progressive policy changes to give India a leadership place in the global maritime community.

On this occasion, Senior officials of the Ministry, DG Shipping, officials of the Shipping Corporation of India, Port officials and representative of the Maritime community were present via video conferencing.

58th National Maritime Day was celebrated at PPT

58^th National Maritime Day was celebrated at PPT on a low scale affair, strictly following COVID-19 guidelines. The main function was held in the Wet Basin of the PPT’s Marine Site office, where, the Chief Guest of the occasion, Shri Rinkesh Roy, COM (Marketing)/ECoR and Ex-Chairman, PPT hoisted the National Maritime Day flag. During this competitions like heaving line throw and rope climbing were held.

 At the meeting, Shri Roy spoke in length about the future prospects of PPT to be become the No.1 Port in the country. He hoped that by 2025, PPT will clock 150 MMT Cargo handling. With the completion of Paradip Haridaspur Line, the dream is quite achievable. Praising the spirit and innovations shown by PPT employees, he appealed everybody to make safety part of PPT’s work culture. The benchmarking, PPT has set in the recent years will definitely boost its prospects to be a global Port.

 Addressing the gathering, Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPT said that each country needs EXIM trade for its growth, where robust waterways provides the safest mode of transport. It is also the cheapest mode of transportation as well as environment friendly. Outlining the highest ever Cargo handling of 114.55 MMT achieved during the last fiscal, Shri Bose praised the dedication shown by the PPT employees and also mentioned that, despite COVID-19 Pandemic and  the Cyclone AMPHAN, the Port posted positive growth. He appealed to everybody to contribute wholeheartedly to realise the dream of the No.1 Port in India.

Capt. Ashok Mahapatra, Ex-Director of IMO Safety Division was felicitated on the occasion for his tireless service and stellar contribution to the Indian Maritime Industry. Winners of the different competitions were also awarded on the occasion.

 Capt.A.K.Mohapatra, Dy.Conservator, PPT presided over the function. Capt.A.C.Sahu, Harbour Master gave the welcome speech and Er.Babul Sikdar, Sr.Marine Engineer offered Vote of Thanks.

PERFORMANCE REPORT

PARADIP PORT HANDLED ALL TIME RECORD CARGO OF 114.55 MILLION METRIC TONNES DURING FY 2020-21.APART FROM MURMUGAO PORT PPT IS THE ONLY PORT TO POST POSITIVE GROWTH

With a record cargo handling of 114.55 MMT cargo in FY 20-21, Paradip Port Trust achieved the coveted 100 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of cargo handling fourth consecutive year in row. Despite cyclone Amphan and COVID-19 crisis, it once again repeated the feat by crossing the 100 MMT mark in succession, said Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, PPT addressing a Press Meet held at Officer’s Club this afternoon at Paradip. The above achievement of highest ever Cargo handling 100 MMT of cargo again by PPT in the FY 20-21, is despite 2 of its existing berths are not available for handling of cargo, since these are under mechanization process.

For the above feat, Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, PPT congratulated Shri Mansukh Mandavia , Hon’ble Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, the Ministry, the user Industries, Stevedores, Steamer Agents, Trade Unions to have their continued faith on the ability of the Port to serve them. He congratulated the employees and officers of the Port for their continued commitment to serve the trade. Given an overview of the Port Chairman, PPT said that. 

1. AN OVERVIEW:

• The largest port in the country in terms of rated capacity @ 302 MMTPA.
• The largest Dry Bulk handling port.
• The largest Coal handling port.
• The largest Iron Ore
• The largest Coastal cargo handling port.
• The second largest port in terms of Traffic handled @ 100 MMTPA in 2020-21
• The highest OSBD (Output per Ship Berth Day) in bulk cargo i.e the most efficient.
• Having lowest marine charges.
• The largest Railway Terminal in the Country in terms of rakes handled.

TRAFFIC PERFORMANCE:

Paradip Port Trust achieved all time traffic throughput of 114.55 million metric tonnes during the year 2020-21 as against the previous year’s traffic of 112.68 million metric tonnes exhibiting a growth of 1.65 %.

PERFORMANCE PARAMETER:

         During the year, the port performance parameter viz. Berth-day out-put improved to 23,943 MT, Pre-berthing detention has improved from 15.32 Hrs. in FY 19-20 to 6.20 Hrs. in FY 2020-21 and the Berth Occupancy is 74% as against 73% in the previous year.The Port’s profit before tax stands at Rs.722Cr. which is an increase 6.02% over last fiscal which stood at Rs.681Cr.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Medical Department

• Total 862 CoVID-19 ANTIGEN tests performed and Total positive- 198Treated 52 COVID-19 patients in Covid Care Centre
• Treated around 180 COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation as OPD Patients
• PPT Hospital has been declared as COVID-19 Immunization Centre. Vaccination to 277 healthcare workers and support staffs have been performed
• 3951 Health and frontline workers and Senior citizens have been vaccinated for COVID-19.

Traffic Department

• The Port has handled the highest ever cargo of 114.55 Million Metric Tonnes and improving its performance year-on-year.
• In the month of March’ 2021 the Port has also handled highest ever monthly total of 11.64 Million Metric Tonnes, as against the previous record of 11.17 Million Metric Tonnes in January’ 21 in the current fiscal.
• The port has also handled the highest ever Average Rakes per day i.e. 51.82 Nos. in February’ 2021. Wherein, the Average of Incoming & Outgoing Rakes are 29.93 & 21.89 respectively.
• As EQ3 berth undergoes renovation, it received its first Baby Cape vessel MV ANGLO JESSICA, LOA - 255 mtrs. with 95,000 MT Iron Ore(con) cargo, on 5th November at 11.30 Hrs.

E & M Department

•         IOHP posts record 188 rakes' tippling in March, 2021 surpassing the      previous monthly best of 182 rakes done in Feb., 2021.
•        MCHP achieved another milestone by unloading Highest Nos. of BOBRN Rakes carrying Thermal coal in a month i.e: 572 in the month of March-2021 surpassing the previous record of 570 in the month of January-2018

Projects under different stages of implementation:

• Over Rs.2000 crores worth of projects for Port modernization are under implementation. These are:
• Mechanization of 03 existing EQ berths to 30 MMTPA capacity for handling thermal coal exports at an approximate cost of Rs.1440 crores.
• Development of a New Coal Import Berth of 10 MMTPA capacity at an approximate cost of Rs.650 crores.
• Further, development of Western Dock of capacity 25 MMTPA at a cost of Rs.3005 Crores has been recently approved by the Government of India and the project is now in tendering stage. On completion, this will transform the Port with facilities to handle Cape size vessels.
• The Haridaspur-Paradip railway line has recently been completed. This is a major game changer and makes Paradip Port very competitive in international trading.

ENVIRONMENT:

• Dry fog System in MCHP & 2 Nos. of Mobile Cannons Dust Suppression
• 2 nos. of Mechanised Road Sweeping Machines in Port Township
• 2 nos. of Wheel Washing Systems to installed to avoid carryover of spilled material.
• 2 nos. of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) of 2.5 MLD & 2 MLD capacity
• 12 mtr. Height & 2.9 km. long Net Barriers along Port Periphery
• Green Belt Development
• Tier-1 response facility for combating Oil Spill Pollution
• 2 New Sewerage Treatment Plants were operationalized in this financial year with a capacity of approximate 4.5 MLD and at a cost of Rs.21.82 crores.
• Plantation of 01 lakhs trees in and around the Port city.
• Roof top solar plant of about 265 KW has been installed.

CSR ACTIVITIES:

The Port has been discharging its commitment to the society by taking up several CSR activities.

Paradip Port organised a six months free residential training programme for One Hundred Twenty (120) unemployed youth of Odisha through Central Institute of Plastic Engineering Technology (CIPET) Bhubaneswar at a cost of Rs. 72 lakh and all of them have been gainfully employed after the training.

In order to cater to needs of the denizens from peripheral areas of Paradip Port, free cataract operations have been conducted on 102 poor persons at PPT hospital in a year.

WELFARE MEASURES

• Rs.8.00 Crores has been extended to PMCARES Fund for COVID-19.
• PPT is a glowing example of how the Central and State Govt. have put their combined efforts for meeting the Covid challenge. PPT Authority has signed MoU with Odisha Govt. for dedicated 65 bedded Covid Care Hospital, which is functional at Biju Yatri Niwas, Paradip. PPT has sanctioned Rs. 2.00 Cr.
• A 200 bed COVID Care Center has been inaugurated at PPT Trade Center Building. It is beautifully made in shortest possible time where asymptomatic and mild symptoms patients from the locality, can be treated. District Administration has appreciated our gesture of sparing the building.
• A 50 bedded Covid Care Center is functioning at the "Port Club", for PPT employees.
• 25000 Nose masks have been freely distributed among denizens of Paradip.
• As PPT tries to maintain operational efficiency, it is also striving to be efficient in keeping the port spick & span through routine sanitization and by maintaining social distance norms. Dedicated teams regularly carry out disinfection activities inside port prohibited area besides ensuring mandatory use of face masks by all the personnel. PPT has also been undertaking disinfectant fumigation in the Port Township, PPT Administrative Building, Quarantine Centres and PPT Hospital by deploying Mist Cannons.
• During Cyclone “Amphan”, the Port took active steps to ensure uninterrupted availability of electricity and drinking water. The food distribution among the evacuees at cyclone shelters, even found mention in the Prime Minister’s “Man ki Baat”.
• All efforts are made to beautify our Port Township including development of parks, creek side and walking paths and make Paradip as a walkers’ paradise.

                   Last but not the least, Chairman expressed his gratitude to the Print and Electronic Media for their continued & forth-coming support and encouragement being extended for smooth functioning and development of the Port and look forward for such continued support, guidance and co-operation by all concerned in the days to come.

Free Mega Health Camp Organized by PPT

A Mega Health Camp was organised by Paradip Port Trust on 28.03.2021 at Balipadia, Jajpur in association with Santha Arakshita Das Foundation & Olasuni Gumpha Development Trust. Organized with the aim of promoting health awareness among the public and offering them easy access to quality healthcare, the camp offered specialist consultations, medicines all completely free of charges.

Shri A.K. Bose, Deputy Chairman, Paradip Port Trust inaugurated the Camp in presence of the Vice President, Paradip Ladies Club, and the respective Presidents of Santha Arakshita Das Foundation & Olasuni Gumpha Development Trust.

Dr. P. Panda, CMO, PPT Hospital, along with doctors, and suppport staffs of Paradip Port Trust Hospital treated 1000 patients, conducting ECG and rapid Glucose test etc.

It is organised under the corporate social responsibility of the Paradip Port Trust. It is noteworthy that Pradip Port Trust conducts various philanthropic activities under the CSR from time to time.The Medical Camp was much needed for the people in villages with limited access to the hospitals, especially in the context of COVID 19 Pandemic. Camp was organised under strict adherence to the COVID appropriate behaviour.

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chairman, PPT expressed his concern about the health of people and stressed on the role of industries under CSR, and assured more such Health Camps in the surrounding areas in future.

PPT compensates Widow of the deceased Hospital staff in COVID-19

Shri A K Bose, Deputy Chairman, Paradip Port Trust disbursed compensation of Rs 50 Lakhs by cheque to Smt. Sabita Lenka, wife and legal heir of Late Trinath Charana Lenka, contractual dresser of PPT Hospital, who succumbed to COVID-19 in October, 2020.

The compensation was disbursed in this afternoon in the presence of Dr. P. Panda, CMO, PPT Hospital and other Medical staff. The scheme has been declared by the Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India. It may be noted that due to pro-active steps taken by the PPT Management and the PPT Hospital in particular, this has been the only loss of life at Paradip Port Trust in the ongoing COVID Pandemic.

20th Paradip Port Invitational Golf Tournament held

Woman golfer Manasi Chalia emerged champion in the women category of Paradip Port Invitation Golf Tournament 2021, which concluded, here on Sunday.

In the Men category, Bhubaneswar Oran of Bhubaneswar Golf Club, became the champion. In handicap (1 – 12), (13 - 18) and (19 – 24) categories, Oscar Dung Dung of Paradip Golf Club, Shailendra Upadhyaya of Bhubaneswar Golf Club and Capt. A.K. Mohapatra of Paradip Golf Club have become the winners respectively. Bablu Sikdar and Harihar Das of Paradip Golf Club have bagged Runners Up awards in handicap (13 - 18). In children putting, Kumar Harshid Das became the champion.

The Tournament was held at Paradip Golf Course by Paradip Port Golf Club and Paradip Port Sports Council. Gracing the occasion, Shri Asit Tripathy, Chairman, Western Odisha Development Council, Shri Santosh Kumar Mohapatra, Ex-Chairman, PPT, Dy. Chairman PPT, Shri A.K. Bose and Shri D.N. Sondhi, President, GKS gave away the prizes.

Paradip Golf Club president Capt. Atulya Kumar Mohapatra and  working president Bablu Sikdar conducted the tournament smoothly. Shri Rabi Das, Advisor,  sports council gave the vote of thanks. Total 60 golfers from 5 leading golf clubs from eastern India participated in the tourney. 

50th Safety Week concludes at PPT

“Learn from Disaster and Prepare for a Safer Future” being the theme, the 50^th National Safety Week is being observed by Paradip Port Trust today came to an end. Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPT lowered the National Safety week Flag, this aftenoon at an event held at Gate No. 4, in presence of Shri P. Gopinath, Asst. Director, Dock Safety along with other HODs and PPT officials and various stakeholders. A tribunal salute was offered by Shri P.K. Kar, Safety Officer, PPT. Addressing the gathering, Shri Bose said that we shouldn’t sign off safety as the week concludes, but continue this through out the year. Any miscalculation or wrong step by us will lead to accident or misfortune. He appealed the winners of various essay and debate competitions to propagate the theme of safety not only within the organization, but also the society as a whole.  Saftey Rath and Safety Rally have been the major highlights of the week long celebrations.

Thereafter, the winners of various competitions like safety essay, debate and poster competitions, organised on the occasion, were awarded. Shri S.K. Das, CME, PPT gave the welcome address and called upon all the stakeholders to make Safety a teamwork. Shri P.K. Kar, Safety Officer, PPT offered the vote of thanks.

Signing of Land Lease Agreement for Crude Oil Import Terminal Plot between NRL and PPT

 Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL)  has entered into a Land Lease Agreement for its 234.14 acres of land earmarked for Crude Oil Import Terminal Plot with Paradip Port Trust (PPT).

The agreement was signed to this effect today at Paradip  between Shri Biswajit Mishra, Sr.Asst.Estate Manager, on behalf of PPT Board and Shri Prabir Kumar Talukdar, CGM (HR), on behalf of NRL in presence of Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, PPT, Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPT. Shri Manoj Kumar Pegu, Head Project, Pipeline  DGM (Projects Pipeline) NRL - Shri A J Phukan, Shri Bikas Kumar Das, Manager, Projects and other senior officials from both the organizations were also present on the occasion.

The Terminal is being set up as part of NRL’s  integrated Refinery Expansion project that is being implemented at an estimated cost of more that Rs. 22 thousand Crore. The mega project envisages amongst others, import of Crude Oil at Paradip port and transport of the same by way of laying pipeline from Paradip, Odisha to Numaligarh, Assam.

52nd CISF Raising Day observed by CISF Unit, PPT

Like previous years, the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) Unit of Paradip Port Trust observed 52^nd raising day in its local complex this morning. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT took salute from the marching contingents. Addressing the gathering, he said that the CISF is created for the better protection and security of industrial undertakings in the country. It is no longer a PSU-centric force. With the number of personnel has reached over 1,63,000, it has transformed into a multi-skill security agency of the country mandated to provide security to the major installations across the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Madhabananda Biswal, Commandant, CISF Unit, PPT told about the importance of security required by the critical industrial undertakings and sectors. Industrial places like nuclear installations, airports, power plants, heritage monuments, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and many more require CISF in order to maintain easy workflow and secure surroundings for citizens.

Shri Dhyan Singh, Dy. Commandant, CISF Unit, PPT offered vote of thanks.

Press Release on International Women's Day -2021

Maritime India Summit-2021 concludes today with ‘Chabahar Day’

‘The 21st century will not belong to land; it will be a century of the seas, skies and space. Atma Nirbhar Maritime Sector would be foundation of the New India and ‘AatmNirabhar Bharat’: Shri Mansukh Mandaviya

The Second edition of Virtual Maritime India Summit-2021 concluded today. The three-day maritime conference was one of the biggest virtual maritime summits of the world.  

In his key note address of Chabahar day Session, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said that Chabahar Port project will be developed as transit hub for cross connectivity between the India and Eurasia and further added that Chabahar Port handled 123 vessels and total 13,752 TEUs and 18 lakh tons of bulk / general cargo. Chabahar Port has emerged as the “connecting point” for the region to deliver humanitarian assistance during the COVID pandemic, added Shri Mandaviya. Shri Mandaviya reiterated the importance of the maritime sector and said, ‘The 21st century will not belong to land; it will be a century of the seas, skies and space’. 

In the Valedictory Session of Maritime India Summit-2021, Shri Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, additional secretary of  Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways briefed about the summit and added that about 1.90 lakh delegates registered for the summit,16 international ministers from 11 nations joined for different sessions. A total of six union ministers, chief ministers of three states and two state ministers having joined us for different sessions. A total of 55 CEOs, which included 31 international CEOs and 24 Indian CEOs joined during the CEO’s forum . A total of 110 exhibitors joined during the summit, in 18 pavilions and 107 booths, which led to 5,540 B2B meetings. A total of more than 64,000 visitors were recorded during the three days of the summit.  

In his concluding remark, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya said, ‘Maritime India Summit-2021 will empower and strengthen Maritime India Vision-2030 which was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the inauguration of the summit. Due to MIS-2021, the expectations and the aspirations of the world towards India has increased. We have to keep marching towards achieving our goal. MoU signed during the summit should borne successful outcome with our dedicated and focused efforts’. Shri Mandaviya ended with optimism and said, “AatmNirbhar Maritime Sector’ would be foundation of the New India and ‘AatmNirabhar India” 

National Safety Week kicks off at PPT

“Learn from Disaster and Prepare for a Safer Future” being the theme, the 50^th National Safety Week is being observed by Paradip Port Trust. Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPT inaugurated Safety Week Celebrations on March 4, 2021. Saftey Rath and Safety Rally have been the major highlights of the week long celebrations.

Attending the inaugural function at Gate No.4, as the Chief Guest,  Shri Bose hoisted the safety flag and administered the safety pledge. Addressing the gathering he said that we should not just limit safety to a weeklong celebration. For remaining 51 weeks of a year also we have to make it priority in our lives. Human capital is the most important component in any organisations and due to negligence,  one can’t afford it to lose the life. As the Port is vying for the number one position in the country in safety standard also, it should set a bench mark. Safety practices must be given paramount importance. He appealed to the workers not to venture inside the port prohibited area in two wheelers to avoid any untoward incident.  The Asst. Addl. Director, Dock  Safety(DGFASLI), Shri B.Gopinath and  HoDs of PPT also spoke on the occasion. 

 Shri Saroj Kumar Das, CME, PPT in his welcome address called upon to ensure integration of occupational safety and health in our work culture and lifestyle. Shri P.K.Kar, Safety Officer, PPT offered the vote of thanks.

Special Session on Investment Opportunities in Odisha at MIS 2021.

Shri Vinit Kumar during his welcome address impressed upon importance of Port led Industrilization. He also showed a short film on Investmet Opportunities in Odisha.   

Shri Padmanabha Behera, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Planning and Convergence, Commerce & Transport:

GoO has been proactively following a policy of promoting developing non-major Ports in the State in PPP Mode since 2004. Two Ports have been functional and three are in the pipeline including proposed Mahanadi Riverine Port in Kendrapara District. Development of National Waterways five will be economical viable and provide an alternative route for transportation of minerals to Paradip. GoO has entered into several MoUs for establishment of Heavy Industries in the sectors like steel, thermal power, aluminium and petrochemicals in the State. Development of Port Sector will play in sustainable and  inclusive growth of the State.

Shri Madhu Sudan Padhi, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Commerce & Transport, GoO:

Elaborating on Port Sector and Port-led development in the State of Odisha. Shri Padhi told that as per study by IIT, Chennai, 14 locations have been identified for development of non-Major Ports. Odisha Govt. is following a proactive policy, in which pvt. Players are encouraged to establish Ports in BOOST method. For upcoming Mahanadi Riverine Port, GoO is going to sign an MoU with PPT soon. The upcoming 12 MT JSW Steel Plant is going to establish a Port at the mouth of Jatadhari river. The concept of Port-led Industrialisation future success story of Odisha. A Port near Nua Nai in Puri will promote cruise tourism in the region and can be a clean cargo Port with container handling. Transparent Port policy and friendly industrial policy will make journey of potentials investors, easy.

Shri Hemanta Sharma, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, GoO:

Highlighting the Port led development in the State, he said that Odisha is growing leaps and bounds in industrialisation trade and commerce. State is currently surplus in electricity, rich in industrial water and  of late, intense hinterland road, rail network. We have a very skilled and professional workforce for upcoming industrial economy. In the last few years both the state and Central Government are trying to develop hinterland infrastructure like road, rail, airport and pipeline etc. so that they will link the industrial clusters with the Ports. Today the Ports of Odisha are the gateways to the ASEAN countries. Ports will definitely add to the Industrial infrastructure.

Shri Dilip Oommen, CEO, AMNS:

For setting up a Steel Plant one must rein in cost of logistics, the 480 KM long sea coast and the vast mineral deposit gives Odisha an advantage. For rapid industrialisation in the State, the CAGR has been 10.4, which is more than national average. PPT is doing wonderful job in cargo movement. OSBD is remarkable and the business has grown 9 times within last 18 years. For skill development the Odisha Govt. needs to do more ship re-cycling industry must be given a boost  for  more ship manufacturing Unit. We should add value by exporing steel instead of iron ore. The AMNS wants to make Odisha steel hub of India.

Shri VR Sharma, Managing Director, JSPL:

Shri Sharma stressed upon more infrastructure to be developed for export of additional steel cargo in the state. Called for dedicated Ports may come up related to exports of steel in the State. Eastern belt of the country is having 28 MT steel export capacity. He further stressed upon infrastructure development for rail & port connectivity.

Shri Dibyendu Bose, Vice President, Supply Chain, Tata Steel:

Tata Steel is in the process of developing the Subarnnarekha project. The vision for maritime sector in Odisha for Tata Steel is to strategically dedicate one port  for each of its plant to keep it supply chain going. Paradip Port for Angul plant,

Dhamara Port for Kalinga Nagar plant and
Subarnrekha Port for Jamshedpur plant. For production of additional 30 MT steel, the Ports will handle additional 32 MT. raw materials. Tata Steel has signed an agreement for handling at KICT terminal if PPT. For development of Western Dock, Tata Steel will be interested. This is how Tata Steel has designed its supply chain network.

Shri Dharmedra Pradhan, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel:

  Union Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan today said that Odisha’s coastline is going to be the hub of maritime trade. While addressing the “Investment Opportunities in Odisha’ session in the Maritime India Summit 2021, he also assured all potential investors that the Central and State Governments are working in tandem to make Odisha an attractive investment destination.

Shri Pradhan said that Odisha has a rich maritime history and thousands of years ago navigators of the state sailed to different parts of the globe to bring fortune and glory to the state. He further said thatat one point time in history, we were one of the most prosperous civilizations of the world and today in the 21st century, PM Modi has given a clarion call of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and $5 trillion economy. With natural harbours, rich natural resources, long coastline and skill-able and hardworking manpower, Odisha is uniquely poised to be the part of Aatmanirbhar journey and contribute to the making of $5 trillion economy .

The minister said that in the 21st century, the global network of trade and commerce will be maritime and Odisha’s coast will be the gateway. Paradipis going to be the gateway of growth of eastern part of country.Kalinganagaris being developed as a steel hub, envisages to become a self-contained ecosystem, and will enable the potential investors for setting up value added downstream facilities. Our initiatives in the petroleum and steel sectors will provide impetus to the maritime economy in Odisha.He said that anchor industries and companies are needed for development and operations of new ports in Odisha and optimal utilization of riverine and sea port area.

He reiterated Prime Minister’s vision of Purvodaya to drive eastern India’s growth to keep pace with the growth in other regions of the country and its importance in achieving national growth.

Shri Pradhan said that Integration of crucial infrastructure Road, Rail and Port will lead to the industrial development of Odisha. Potential for port-led Blue Economy will be unlocked with the multi-modal rail, road and air linkages with sea and riverine port for transport of minerals and goods at much lower logistics cost.

Shri Pradhan said that Odisha serves as a link between eastern & western India through the railway network of the South Eastern Railways & the East Coast Railways. There is further potential for integrating railway freight corridors with key ports in Odisha and setting up of maintenance and engineering projects in the State.

Regarding petroleum sector investments, Shri Pradhan said Oil and Gas CPSEs have spearheaded a number of infrastructure investments in the State of Odisha including in oil refining, gas pipeline infrastructure, marketing infrastructure and city gas distribution networks.He also echoed Prime Minister’s thoughts on the Government’s role to not to be wealth creators themselves but to provide policy certainty to the wealth creators in order to thrive.

Prime Minister inaugurates Maritime India Summit-2021 virtually

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Maritime India Summit 2021’ through video conferencingtoday. Minister of Transport of Denmark Mr Benny Englebrecht, Chief Ministers of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, Union Ministers Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ports, Shipping And Watwerways, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, were present on the occasion.

In his welcome address, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Maritime India Summit is one of the biggest virtual summits in the world, with the participation of more than 1.7 lakh registered participants from more than 100 nations. In this three-day summit, we will have ministers from 8 nations, more than 50 global CEOs and more than 160 speakers which includes 115 international speakers from 24 nations.

Shri Mandaviya further assured all stakeholders in the sectors and investors from across the globe and said that Government of India is all geared up for facilitating and grounding the investments in the maritime sector and our role in the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.Prime Minister released e-book of ‘ Maritime India Vision-2030’. Maritime India Vision 2030 is aiming to make the Indian Maritime Industry at par with top global benchmarks in next 10 years.

Prime Minister also unveiled the e-plaque of ‘Sagar-Manthan’:Mercantile Maritime Domain Awareness Centre(MM-DAC). It is an information system for enhancing maritime safety, search and rescue capabilities, security and marine environment protection.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister invited the world to come to India and be a part of India’s growth trajectory. India is very serious about growing in the maritime sector and emerging as a leading Blue Economy of the world,he said.

Prime Minister noted that instead of a piecemeal approach focus is on the entire sector as one. He informed that capacity of major ports have increased from 870 million tonnes in 2014 to 1550 million tonnes now. Indian ports now have measures such as: Direct port Delivery, Direct Port Entry and an upgraded Port Community System (PCS) for easy data flow. Our ports have reduced waiting time for inbound and outbound cargo. He also informed that mega ports with world class infrastructure are being developed in Vadhavan, Paradip and Deendayal Port in Kandla.

The Prime Minister concluded while inviting the global investors, “India’s long coastline awaits you. India’s hardworking people await you. Invest in our ports. Invest in our people. Let India be your preferred trade destination. Let Indian ports be your port of call for trade and commerce.”

PPT executes 27 Nos. of MoU worth Rs. 27,450 Cr. with various stakeholders ahead of Maritime India Summit (MIS) 2021

Paradip Port, the 2nd largest Major Port in terms of cargo handling has executed 27 Nos. of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with various stakeholders to further enhance the economic growth of the State of Odisha and the country as a whole under the Maritime India Summit (MIS) 2021. The MoUs were signed on behalf of PPT by respective HoDs and Sr. Officials and Sr. officials of representing organisations in presence of Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman and Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT. Addressing the Press Meet over video conferencing, Chairman, PPT appealed everyone to make the Mega International Event a grand success. He shared with the Press the details about the upcoming sessions and process of registration to participate in the Summit. Moreover, there will be a Special Session on “Investment Opportunities in Odisha” on March 3, 2021, from 1230 Hrs to 1400 Hrs in which Hon’ble in which Hon’ble Commerce & Transport Minister of Odisha, Shri Padmanabha Behera will chair the session, which will be also attended by senior State Officials of the Govt. of Odisha and Heads of leading industries on virtual mode.           

 Out of the 27 MoUs, 15 nos. worth Rs.3,878.81 Crs. under the category of Projects for development of World Class Port, 2 in Coastal Shipping Hinterland connectivity and Multimodal Logistics Park worth Rs.355 Crs., 2 in Port infrastructures focusing on Liquid Cargo worth Rs.5,382.64 Crs., 4 in Port Led Industrialization worth Rs.16,218 Crs. and 4 under the category of Promoting Cargo and Passenger Movement and Seaplane Tourism worth Rs.1,616 Crs.

The Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways will conduct the MIS from March 2 - 4, 2021. The summit intends to be a powerful platform for international collaboration with partner countries for mutual exchange of knowledge and opportunities and also leading towards the Atmanirbhar Bharat.

PPT achieves yet another 100 MMT mark in Cargo Handling

Paradip Port achieved the handling 100 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of cargo fourth year in row. Despite COVID-19 crisis, it once again repeated the feat by crossing the 100 MMT mark in succession and achieved cargo throughput of 100.30 MMT till 21.02.2021 in the current fiscal.

The above achievement of 100 MMT of cargo again by PPT in the current fiscal is despite global COVID-19 crisis and 2 of its existing berths are not available for handling of cargo these are under mechanization process.

 For the above feat, Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, PPT congratulates the user industries, Stevedores, Steamer Agents, Trade Unions  to have their continued faith on the ability of the Port to serve them.  Congratulating the employees and officers of the Port for their continued commitment to serve the trade, Chairman, PPT takes the pleasure of appreciating the support of Govt. authorities like Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (GoI), Govt. of Odisha, Indian Railways, Customs, Immigration Department, Dock Safety, MMD as well as all Service Providers/Terminal Operators for their sustained effort in achieving the above feat.

Press Release on Maritime India Summit-2021

 The 2nd edition of Maritime India Summit (MIS) 2021, a mega international event is going to be held virtually from March 2-4, 2021. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Maritime India Summit-2021 on March 2. The event is being organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) in virtual mode because of COVID-19 pandemic.

            Addressing press conference through virtual mode today, Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, PPT said that the Maritime India Summit (MIS) is going to provide a powerful platform for international collaboration. It will cover various aspects of shipping. PPT is going to put up a pavilion in virtual mode, in which more than a billion dollar investment opportunity will be shown. On the 3^rd March, in collaboration with Govt. of Odisha, PPT will organise a special session on “Investment Opportunities in Odisha”. Soliciting the co-operation of media fraternity to make the event grand success, he also appealed them apart from publicizing, to register for the participation in the event. 

Launching of “PPT Vidyut Seva” Mobile App

In a bid to facilitate electricity consumers of PPT, a Mobile App "PPT Vidyut Seva" was launched by Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, PPT today through VDO conference in presence of Shri A.K. Bose, Dy Chairman, PPT, Shri Charanjeet Singh, EVP, BD & Consultancy, PTC India Ltd. and other Sr. officials of both the organisations. Shri Saroj Kumar Das, CME, PPT explained that PTC India Ltd. has developed this application, which is easily available in Google playstore and by use of this App, consumers will have easy access to the power consumption, billing and payment data. They can view and download electricity bill. Online electricity bill payment can be done 24x7 basis and toll free customer care number will cater to the need of the consumer. Complaints can also be registered on power supply/billing/payment.

  PPT will be also immensely benefited from the consumer friendly environment as there will be more transparency in revenue affairs. Collection efficiency will increase and consumer complaints will addressed conveniently.

  PPT Authorities request all consumers to avail the online facility developed to make payment of electricity bill and also to lodge complaint if any, using this App.

Parliament today passes landmark Major Port Authorities Bill,2020. The Bill focuses on reorienting the governance model in central ports in line with the successful global practices

Parliament today passed the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020. Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State (I/C) for Ports, Shipping &Waterways moved the bill in Rajya Sabha today and it was passed. Now the Bill will go  to the President of India for his assent.

With a view to promote the expansion of port infrastructure and facilitate trade and commerce, the Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 bill aims at decentralizing decision making and to infuse professionalism in governance of major ports. It imparts faster and transparent decision making benefiting the stakeholders and better project execution capability. The Bill is aimed at reorienting the governance model in central ports to landlord port model in line with the successful global practice. This will also help in bringing transparency in operations of Major Ports.This will empower the Major Ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of full autonomy in decision making and by modernizing the institutional framework of Major Ports.

The salient features of the Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 are as under: -

1. The Bill is more compact in comparison to the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 as the number of sections has been reduced to 76 from 134 by eliminating overlapping and obsolete Sections.
2. The new Bill has proposed a simplified composition of the Board of Port Authority which will comprise of 11 to 13 Members from the present 17 to 19 Members representing various interests. A compact Board with professional independent Members will strengthen decision making and strategic planning. Provision has been made for inclusion of representatives of State Government in which the Major Port is situated, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Defence and Customs, Department of Revenue as Members in the Board apart from a Government Nominee Member and a Member representing the employees of the Major Port Authority.
3. The role of Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) has been redefined. Port Authority has now been given powers to fix tariff which will act as a reference tariff for purposes of bidding for PPP projects. PPP operators will be free to fix tariff- based on market conditions. The Board of Port Authority has been delegated the power to fix the scale of rates for other port services and assets including land.
4. An Adjudicatory Board has been proposed to be created to carry out the residual function of the erstwhile TAMP for Major Ports, to look into disputes between ports and PPP concessionaires, to review stressed PPP projects and suggest measures to review stressed PPP projects and suggest measures to revive such projects and to look into complaints regarding services rendered by the ports/ private operators operating within the ports.
5. The Boards of Port Authority have been delegated full powers to enter into contracts, planning and development, fixing of tariff except in national interest, security and emergency arising out of inaction and default. In the present MPT Act, 1963 prior approval of the Central Government was required in 22 instances.
6. The Board of each Major Port shall be entitled to create specific master plan in respect of any development or infrastructure.
7. Provisions of CSR & development of infrastructure by Port Authority have been introduced.
8. Provision has been made for safeguarding the pay & allowances and service conditions including pensionary benefits of the employees of major ports

First Phase of COVID-19 Vaccination Drive at PPT Hospital for frontline workers

The first phase of Vaccination against COVID-19 at Paradip and PPT Hospital for the frontline workers took place today.  The vaccination session was inaugurated by Shri Asish Kumar Bose, the Deputy Chairman, PPT in the presence of Shri Kanhu Charan Dhir, Addl. District Magistrate, Paradip and the Officers and Employees of Medical Department, PPT. COVID-19 vaccination has been eagerly awaited to prevent the spread of the disease by creating HERD immunity in the community.  As per the Government Guidelines,  the health care workers have been immunized first on 19th January 2021. Today 100 PPT Hospital frontline workers got immunized. This is to be noted that no adverse reaction of vaccine has been reported 

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issues finalized guidelines of Floating Structures

Ministry intends to promote floating jetties/platforms for various usages all along the Indian Coastline

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has finalized and issued the guidelines for floating structures, with a vision to set up world-class floating infrastructure all along the coastline, in the upcoming projects as per the provisions contained in the guidelines.

The guidelines sets out various technical aspects for implementation of Floating Jetties / Platforms for Marinas, Minor Harbors, Fishing Harbours / Fish landing centers, Waterdromes and such other similar facilities in coastal areas, estuaries, waterways, rivers and reservoirs. These guidelines may also be suitably utilized for floating pontoons/platforms in various waterborne systems and floating wave attenuators (or breakwaters) for Minor Harbors/Fish Landing facilities.

Floating structure because of its inherent advantages is an attractive solution and hence being promoted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The benefits of floating jetties/structures over the conventional quay and fixed concrete structures include its cost-effectiveness, faster implementation, easily expandable and re-locatable; and having minimal environmental impacts.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has successfully implemented few projects including setting up of passenger floating jetties in Goa, water-aerodromes at Sabarmati River & at SardarSarovar Dam (for the seaplane services) which are working satisfactorily. Several projects of the Ministry are under the planning stage for overall development and upliftment of the coastal community.

Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (I/C) Shri Mansukh Mandaviya stated that Ministry hasset a benchmark and evolved standard specifications in these guidelines at par with international standards. These platforms have several advantages over the conventional/fixed concrete structures. It is the endeavor of our Ministry to promote laying up of such world class infrastructureacross the country in the upcoming projects to achieve the best results of utilization, durability, safety, low maintenance, cost-effectiveness and above all with minimalecological impacts.

The document of finalized guidelines along with Specification/Schedule of Technical Requirements (SOTR) for floating structures can be accessed at http://sagarmala.gov.in /circulars/ guidelines-floating-jetties-platforms-marinas-minor-harbors-fishing-harbours-fish-landing.

These guidelines would be helpful for all Maritime states, State Maritime Boards, Major Ports, IWAI and Fisheries Departments of all State governments for their upcoming projects.

PPT Celebrated Republic Day 2021

Amid Covid-19 pandemic gloom, the Republic Day celebrations at PPT were scaled down this year. Shri A K Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT unfurled the National Flag and took salute from 3 contingents of CISF Jawans.

Addressing the gathering, he said that the year 2020 ended with a happy note as the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs approved Rs. 3000 crore Western Dock expansion project, which will transform PPT into a world-class Port. The decision has been taken with a futuristic approach as the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been laying emphasis on development of Eastern States. With the addition of Haridaspur-Paradip railway link, there will be ease in aggregation/evacuation of cargo.

 The Port first crossed the coveted 100 MMPTA in FY 2017-18 and  became the No.1 Major Port in the country for the 1st quarter of FY 2020-21. While this achievement gives immense happiness, which is shared by people all across the state of Odisha, but we have to now shoulder even bigger responsibilities to become the No. 1 position in the country. Though the Port is known as Dry Bulk Handling Port, of late, container operations are being given also priority. Two shipping lines have started their services within last 4 months from PICT berth. After undergoing renovation, EQ3 berth received its first Baby Cape Vessel. The Port till date has handled 91.26 MMT cargo and thus by, marched ahead of last year’s cargo figure, which is befitting to the occasion of Republic Day.

Cargo handling operations have commenced in the newly developed Iron Ore (Export) Berth of 10 MTPA capacity. Development of New Coal Berth for handling of Coal Imports on BOT basis (PPP), of 10 MTPA Capacity, with an estimated cost of Rs. 655.56 Crs. is in progress and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Mechanization of EQ-1, EQ-2 & EQ-3 berths, of 30 MTPA Capacity, with an estimated cost of Rs. 1437.76 Crs. is in progress and is also expected to be completed by the year end. LPG Terminal at South Oil Jetty is being developed by IOCL of 0.75 MTPA capacity at an estimated cost of Rs. 690 Crores, is expected to be completed by March 2021. MoU for a Riverine Port in the Mahanadi River mouth at Paradip (i.e. Port within a Port), is under process for signing with the State Government. As a part of development of Smart Industrial Port City, Paradip Port will segregate its cargo traffic from the passenger traffic, for which a second exit road-cum-fly over shall be implemented at a cost of Rs.92.00 crores. This will ensure safety in road movement and clean environment to the commuters. Another bridge shall also be constructed adjacent to the old Atharbanki Bridge for congestion free movement to the Fishery Harbour Road and the Port premises.

He concluded by appealing the audience to take part in the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination drive, which injects hope and confidence. Thereafter, he felicitated employees of various departments and covid warriors of PPT Hospital and CISF Unit, PPT, who have excelled in their respective fields.

'Chintan Baithak' to be held at Dhordo, Kutch,Gujarat from 21st to 23rd January,2021. Chintan Baithak is a important initiative for finalising a roadmap of India's Maritime sector for the next decade for fulfilling Prime Minister's vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat': Shri Mansukh Mandaviya

Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Ports,Shipping and Waterways (I/C) will chair three-day Ports Review Meeting named ‘Chintan Baithak’ at Dhordo, Kutch,Gujarat.

From 21st to 23rd January 2021, Chairpersons of all Major Ports of India and Senior Officials of the ministry will participate in the extensive brainstorming conference to finalise the roadmap of Maritime Vision-2030. 

The Chintan Baithak includes sessions on exploring new vistas of urban transportation, effective implementation of SAROD-Ports, issues related to International Arbitrations etc. The future action plan for development of satellite ports by all major ports will be deliberated. Discussion on opening up more new routes for RO- RO, RO-PaX ferry and Seaplane services across the nation,and discussion on  ways and means for increasing volume & movement of Coastal Cargo will also take place.

Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (I/C) Shri Mansukh Mandaviya stated that the basic purpose of holding this Chintan Baithak is to evolve out of the box ideas for improving the performance and efficiency of our Major Ports, setting up of world-class infrastructure facilities at ports by adopting global benchmarks for reducing logistics costs, enhancing connectivity and Ease Of Doing Business are our focus areas. All the ideas emerged out of the extensive discussions during this Chintan Baithak are going to be dovetailed in the Maritime Vision 2030 to fulfil Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of ' Atmanirbhar Bharat' with his key mantra of 'Reform, Perform & Transform’ added Shri Mansukh Mandaviya.

COVID-19 Vaccination Drive Kicks off at PPT Hospital

Vaccination against COVID-19 started at Paradip and PPT Hospital for the Health Care Workers and frontline workers.  The vaccination session was inaugurated by Shri Asish Kumar Bose, the Deputy Chairman, PPT and Shri Kanhu Charan Dhir, Addl. District Magistrate, Paradip and in the presence of the Officers and Employees of Medical Department, PPT.  The first shot was given to the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Prahallad Panda.  Dr Panda said, he is taking first vaccination to alleviate fear of others as well as health care and front line workers; and to stop the rumor –mongers spreading misinformation about the efficacy of the vaccine. COVID-19 vaccination has been eagerly awaited to prevent the spread of the disease by creating HERD immunity in the community.  As per the Government Guidelines, in the first phase, the health care workers and frontline workers were being immunized. Today 100 PPT Hospital Health Care workers and frontline workers got vaccinated. 

FIRE MOCK DRILL CONDUCTED AT PPT ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING

On 15.01.2021at1230hrs a Fire  mock drill was conducted by CISF Fire Wing PPT on the direction and guidance of Shri M Biswal, Commandant, CISF in co- ordination with Safety Professionals of Paradip Port Trust. All the Fire tenders were deployed for the purpose. Shri R N Panigrahi and Sri P K Kar were the observers from PPT side. Shri A K Bose Dy.Chairman, PPT and all HODs & employees of PPT witnessed the mock drill. At the end of the drill, Dy. Commandant, Fire, Shri Dhyan Singh informed various methods adopted by Fire wing team to combat the fire and evacuate the victims. Shri Panigrahi praised the team for their skill, timely efforts and coordination to combat the fire and pointed out the short comings observed during the drill for further improvement. Shri M. Biswal Commandant, CISF praised the team for their good efforts  and told to carry out more such type of mock drills without prior information. Dy. Chairman PPT congratulated the total CISF team and Safety personnel for their exemplary mock drill and assured all that the shortcomings will be eradicated before the next mock drill. Commandant, CISF also declared to carry out such type of mock drill in PPT Hospital. Social distancing norms, compulsory using of masks, Govt. COVID-19 guidelines adopted during the Mock Drill.

PPT issues Global RFQ for development of Western Dock on BOT basis

Within 4 days of approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, PPT issued a Global Tender for the project of “Deepening and Optimization of Inner Harbour Facilities including Development of Western Dock on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode to handle cape size vessels at Paradip Port”. PPT has invited applications from the interested Parities in accordance with the qualifications (RFQ) in order to shortlist competent applicants who would be subsequently invited to bid (RFQ) for the project. The last date and time of submission of RFQ is 18.02.2021 till 1100 Hrs. the details are available in the PPT website www.paradipport.gov.in The Western Dock will come up by the selected operator at a cost of Rs.2,392 Crore on BOT basis.

The proposed project envisages Construction of Western Dock Basin with facilities to handle cape size vessels by the selected BOT Concessionaire with an ultimate capacity of 25 MTPA (Million tonnes per annum) in two phases of 12.50 MTPA each.

The Concession period shall be 30 years from the date of Award of Concession. Paradip Port Trust (Concessioning Authority) shall provide the Common Supporting Project Infrastructure works like breakwater extension & other ancillary works to facilitate handling of cape size vessels.

Cabinet approves Deepening and Optimization of Inner Harbour Facilities including Development of Western Dock on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis under Public-Private Partnership PPP mode to handle cape size vessels at Paradip Port

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approvedthe project 'Deepening and Optimization of Inner Harbour Facilities including Development of Western Dock on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis under Public-Private Partnership (PPP)mode to handle cape size vessels at Paradip Port'.

Financial Implications:

The estimated cost of the project is Rs.3,004.63 Crore. This includes development of the new Western Dock on BOT basis and capital dredging by the selected Concessionaire at a cost of Rs.2,040 Crore and Rs.352.13 Crore respectively; and Paradip Port's investment will be to the tune of Rs.612.50 Crore towards providing Common Supporting Project Infrastructure.

Details:

The proposed project envisages Construction of Western Dock Basin with facilities to handle cape size vessels by the selected BOT Concessionaire with an ultimate capacity of 25 MTPA (Million tonnes per annum) in two phases of 12.50 MTPA each.

The Concession period shall be 30 years from the date of Award of Concession. Paradip Port Trust (Concessioning Authority) shall provide the Common Supporting Project Infrastructure works like breakwater extension & other ancillary works to facilitate handling of cape size vessels.

Implementation Strategy and Targets:

The project would be developed by the selected Concessionaire on BOT basis. However, the Port will provide the Common Supporting Project Infrastructure.

Impact:

On commissioning of the project, it shall cater to the requirement of coal & limestone imports besides export of granulated slag & finished steel products considering the large number of steel plants established in the hinterland of Paradip Port. The project shall also facilitate (i) de-congestion of the Port, (ii) reduce Sea freight making coal imports cheaper, and (iii) boost the industrial economy in the hinterland of the port leading to creation of job opportunities.

Background:

Paradip Port Trust (PPT), a Major Port under Government of India and administered under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, was commissioned in 1966 as a mono commodity port for export of iron ore. In the last 54 years, the Port has transformed itself to handle a variety of Exim cargoes which include iron ore, chrome ore, aluminium ingots, coal, POL, fertilizer raw materials, lime stone, clinker, finished steel products, containers, etc.

In particular, the demand for import of coking coal & fluxes and export of finished steel products has been increasing in view of number of Steel Plants established in the hinterland of the Port necessitating capacity creation to cater to the Port hinterland requirements.

New Chairman of Paradip Port Trust

Shri Vinit Kumar, IRSEE

Chairman, Paradip Port Trust

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (erstwhile Kolkata Port Trust) Chairman Shri Vinit Kumar, an IRSEE officer of 1993 batch assumed the additional charge of Chairman of Paradip Port Trust today. He is currently at the helm of affairs of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, since 9^th October 2017.

Shri Vinit Kumar was Chief Electrical Engineer in Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd. and looked after World Bank funded MUTP project before joining as Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust. Shri Kumar joined administrative post of Secretary, Central Railway and gained experience in general administration. Shri Kumar worked in Central Railway in Mumbai suburban system, one of the densest suburban system in the world in maintenance and operations of rolling stock and traction installations. He also worked in Pune and Nagpur in independent charge of traction assets and locomotive workshop. He has wide experience in operation, maintenance, infrastructure development and general administration of Railways.

As Chairman of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, Shri Kumar has played a pivotal and dynamic role for the Port to achieve the highest cargo handling in two consecutive years of 2018-19 and 2019-2020 which surpassed all previous records in the 150-year history of the port. In addition to cargo handling, the Port achieved profitability of INR 60 crore for the first time in 15 years due to his thoughtful and energetic leadership. In a befitting manner, glorious celebration of 150^th anniversary of Kolkata Port was graciously inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 11^th January 2020 under his skillful guidance.

Quite remarkably the Port is running steadily even in these challenging times by focusing on digitalization, process improvement and user-friendly approach. Shri Kumar is driving the digital transformation across the Port’s departments to improve the operational efficiency, productivity and transparency. Today, the Port stands among top major ports in financial transactions and issuance of eDOs under PCS 1x. By virtue of his enormous efforts, Shri Kumar has turned Centenary Hospital into an ideal employee-friendly COVID-19 grappling hospital of high order. Since 2017 Shri Kumar has been a torchbearer of many success stories of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata in terms of port management and operations.

Since joining at SMP, Kolkata, Shri Kumar has played a key role in the growth of regional connectivity comprising neighboring countries and North-East region. He has visited Bangladesh for Secretary (Shipping) level talks and meeting of Standing Committee under PIWTT and Inter Governmental Committee on use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports of Bangladesh. He has been instrumental in opening a new multimodal route to North-East via Bangladesh by organizing the first movement from SMP Kolkata. Shri Kumar also visited Nepal to participate in INDO-NEPAL Logistics Summit for Business Development and Trade promotion purpose. Shri Vinit Kumar also visited Port of Antwerp International as a team member of Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India for proof consultancy of the report submitted by IIT (M). Shri Kumar was also a team member of Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India to participate in the Second Asia Maritime and Logistics Forum. 

Shri Kumar completed BE in Electrical Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi and PGDBA marketing from Symbiosis. Shri Kumar have also attended management training programs in ICLIF Malaysia and INSEAD Singapore. Shri Kumar has travelled UK, Sweden, Germany etc. for study of systems being followed there for operations, maintenance and infrastructure development. Shri Kumar was also manager for athletics team of Central Railway and attended World Railway Games as in-charge of Indian team in Nuremberg, Germany.

Shri Vinit Kumar believes in collective responsibility and wisdom and he invites wholehearted co-operation from the Port users, Trade and Commerce and employees of Paradip Port Trust at large to further strengthen the overall performance of PPT to make it Numero Uno among Major Ports of India and to make it more vibrant in the Port and Shipping World.

SMART PRE-PAID ENERGY METERS GO LIVE AT PARADIP PORT,FIRST IN ODISHA

In a first in Odisha, Paradip Port Trust brings in pre-paid smart energy meters which have gone live from 21/12/2020.

As a part of the Green Port initiatives, the Chairman, PPT Sri Rinkesh Roy inaugurated the smart meter project with the first recharge of the 3-phase smart meter installed at the BPCL outlet in the Port City, in presence of the Dy. Chairman, PPT Sri A. K. Bose, the Chief Mechanical Engr., PPT Sri Saroj K. Das and the ex-Trustee of PPT Sri Antaryami Pattnaik.

The smart meter project has been implemented at Paradip Port Trust by M/s. Gram Power. The smart meters offer complete transparency to the electricity consumers of PPT along with advantages like monitoring of real time energy consumption data to an hourly resolution, recharge the smart meters by payment through a mobile phone, see the payment history, etc. through a 24 X 7 Consumer Mobile App. The consumers are thus facilitated to analyse their consumption and accordingly help regulate the electricity consumption by them by reducing the losses. At the same time, the smart meters offer many advantages to PPT like reduction in meter reading, billing and bill distribution cost, real time meter parameter reading from a remote central location thereby helping analysis of a consumer’s electricity pattern, providing insight for reduction of losses, regulate the power supply demand better basing on the consumption pattern of the electricity consumers.

Inauguration of two innovative Projects at PPT

As an environment friendly measure, auto sprinkling system inside Harbour area for usage of water collected from Sewage Treatment Plant was commissioned today on 16.12.2020. For this, storage sump has been constructed for collection of treated water from STP which will in turn be utilised in the sprinkling system.  Previously it was being done manually through tankers and this practice will be discontinued soon. Taking further step to make the township disaster resistant, underground cabling system has been put in place in the Port Township and now in the Harbour area it is being carried out. Apart from this, large DG Sets have been installed at different Sub-stations, so that during natural disaster uninterrupted electricity and water supply in the Port area will be ensured. As per SOP to tackle cyclonic storms and other disasters, an Emergency Response Centre was started at Gate No.-4. At the time of Natural disaster, CISF Control Unit along with Port officials will function from the place to mitigate any eventuality. A rest room for the staff deployed will soon come up near the location.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issues draft guidelines of Technical Specifications of Floating Structures for public consultation

Ministry intends to promote floating jetties for various usages all along the Indian Coastline

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has compiled the draft guidelines for technical specifications of floating structures, with a vision to set up and deploy world-class floating infrastructure all along the coastline and issued the same for public consultation.

Floating structure because of its inherent advantages, is attractive solution and being encouraged by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The benefits of floating jetties over the conventional quay and fixed concrete structures are as follows:

·         It is a cost-effective solution and much cheaper than conventional structures price.

·         Setting up of floating structures is much faster as compared to conventional jetties. Usually, floating structures can be built in 6-8 months as compared to 24 months for conventional structures.

·          Its environmental impact is minimal.

·         Expansions are easily feasible due to modular construction techniques.

·         It is easily transportable in case of reconfiguring of the port.

·          It provides constant freeboard between jetties and boats.

Deployment of floating jetties, especially in locations having a large tidal range, where conventional quay poses problems during low tide periods, is very convenient. Floating Jetties, at such locations, provide constant freeboard, eases embarkation of ship’s stores and straightforward unloading of the fishermen’s catch. It consequently leads to increased productivity as well as safety of the fishermen in the long run.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has successfully implemented a few pilot projects in the recent past by following the international guiding principles. These include setting up of passenger floating jetties in Goa, water-aerodromes at Sabarmati River & at Sardar Sarovar Dam (for the seaplane services) which are yielding the best results. More than 80 similar projects of the Ministry are under planning stage all along the coastline for overall development and upliftment of the coastal community.

 A benchmark and standard specifications at par with international standards are being evolved by the Ministry so that technical specifications of floating structures are frozen after due deliberations with various stakeholders. For this, Ministry has entrusted IIT Chennai to work out the technical specifications of sustainable floating structures like floating jetties, water-aerodromes, floating marinas, fish landing facilities etc. so that precise and stringent technical specifications are established.

The draft guidelines along with proposed Specifications / Schedule of Technical Requirements (SOTR) are issued for seeking the feedback and suggestions from the public. The draft guidelines can be accessed on the link: http://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/proforma_guidelines.pdf for which suggestions can be e-mailed to sagar.mala@nic.in by 11.12.2020.

It has been a priority of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s government to enhance transparency in the governance. The issuing of draft guidelines and seeking public feedback is a progressive step in the same direction, which will benefit and prove a milestone for the upliftment of the coastal community in the long run.

Ramayan Cruise Service’ will be launched soon on the river Saryu in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh

‘Ramayan Cruise Tour’ on the Saryu river in Ayodhya will be launched soon. Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways today chaired a review meeting for the implementation of cruise service.

It will be the first-ever luxury Cruise service on the Saryu river (Ghagra/National Waterways-40) in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. It aims to give mesmerizing experience to devotees with one-of-its-kind spiritual journeys while cruising through the famous ghats of the holy river Saryu.

3D DESIGN (ARTISTIC IMPRESSION) OF PROPOSED CRUISE VESSEL

The cruise will be equipped with all luxury comfort and facilities along with all essential safety and security features at par with the global standard. The interiors of the cruise and the boarding point will be based on the theme of Ramcharitmanas. The fully air-conditioned 80-seater cruise will have large glass windows for experiencing the scenic beauty of Ghats. The cruise will be equipped with kitchen and pantry facilities for the comfort of the tourists. The cruise contains bio toilets and hybrid engines system for the ‘zero effect’ on environment.

Tourists will be taken on the ‘Ramcharitmanas Tour’, of 1-1.5 hour duration, featuring an exclusively made video film of 45-60 minutes duration, based on Ramcharitmanas by Goswami Tulsidas, covering the period from the birth of Lord Ram to his Rajyabhishek. The entire tour will cover the approximately 15-16 Km distance.There will be several activities and selfie points inspired by different episodes of Ramayan. The tour will be followed by Saryu Aarti, in which every member will be able to actively participate.

Ayodhya is the birthplace of Lord Ram, as mentioned in in the great Indian epic Ramayan. It is also the first of the seven most important pilgrimage sites (Mokshdayini Sapt Puris) for the Hindus. Approximately, 2 crore tourists visit Ayodhya every year as per the data of UP tourism, for the year 2019.After completion of the Ram Mandir, it is to be believed that the inflow of the tourists will be increased.

The ‘Ramayan Cruise Tour’ will not only attract a large number of tourists but it will also generate direct and indirect employment opportunities in the region. Ministry of ports, Shipping and Waterways will provide all necessary infrastructural support for the smooth operation of the cruise service.

PPT observed Port Day

The Port Day 2020 was a low-key affair at PPT, due to COVID-19 pandemic, but the celebrations were as per the age-old traditions. On this occasion, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, Paradip Port Trust attended the function as Chief Guest in a simple, but traditional affair, with no large gatherings. He unfurled the Paradip Port Flag at Wet Basin in the morning.  He also inspected the Port Marine crafts lined up in the Harbour and took salute. Addressing the employees, he mentioned about the great visionary, late Shri Biju Patnaik, who dreamt the inception of the Port in the state of Odisha. The Port has progressed remarkably and occupied the coveted No. 1 position among all Major Ports of India in the Q1 of current fiscal. He appealed to the employees to put their best efforts forward, so that the Port can finish the current fiscal as No. 1 Port of India. Within the next few days after a gap of 6 decades, cargo movement on the Mahanadi river is going to start. He summed up by stating that the PPT is currently the best Trade Friendly and Highly Productive Port in the country.

Dy. Conservator, Paradip Port Capt. A.K. Mohapatra welcomed the guests in the meeting and explained the importance of Port Day celebrations. Extending his greetings to the employees on the auspicious occasion of Kartika Purnima,he outlined the tremendous rise of the Port in recent decades. For their dedicated service in their respective fields and their attachments to the Port, Capt. A.K. Mohapatra, Dy. Conservator, Dr. P. Panda, CMO, Shri Biswajit Mishra, Sr. AEM, Shri Prasanta Kumar Jena, Sanitary worker, PPT Hospital, Shri Bikas Chandra Kalas, 1st Class Master, Sadhav Shipping Ltd.,  were felicitated on the occasion.

Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, who attended the function as Guest of Honour, threw light on the glorious maritime tradition of Odisha. Shri Moloy Dasgupta, CE, Paradip Port Trust extended vote of thanks.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and waterways issues Draft Merchant Shipping Bill, 2020 for Public Consultation

New Bill aims to repeal and replace the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has issued a draft of the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2020 for public consultation. It aims to repeal and replace the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (Act No. 44 of 1958) and the Coasting Vessels Act, 1838 (Act No. 19 of 1838).

The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2020 has been drafted,with the primary aim of promoting the growth of the Indian shipping industry by incorporating the best practices adopted by other advanced countries like the U.S., Japan, U.K., Singapore and Australia. All up-to-date IMO Conventions / protocols, to which India is a party, have been adopted in it. Adequate provisions are incorporated to ensure the safety and security of vessels, safety of life at sea, prevent marine pollution, provide for maritime liabilities and compensations, and ensure comprehensive adoption of India’s obligations under International Conventions.

The envisioned advantages of the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2020 are following:

• Promoting ease of doing business- The Bill does away with requirement of general trading license for Indian vessels
• Embracing digital technology- It enables electronic means of registration, and grants statutory recognition to electronic agreements, records, and log books, in addition to electronic licenses, certificates and payments.
• Increasing tonnage and Vessel as a Tradable Asset-The Bill seeks to increase India’s tonnage by widening the eligibility criteria for ownership of vessels and providing for the registration of bareboat charter cum demise, thereby increasing opportunities for international trade.
• India as a Bankable Shipping Jurisdiction & avoidance of situations leading to wreck -The proposed Bill seeks to introduce for the first-time statutory framework for regulating maritime emergency response against maritime incidents. The provisions seek to provide for time effective implementation of response mechanisms in order to ensure that the same is prevented from becoming a wreck or other catastrophic event.
• Welfare of Indian seafarers on abandoned vessels and safety of abandoned vessels: Provisions for repatriation of abandoned seafarers have been enhanced, in line with the MLC regulations.
• Strengthening adjudication and predictability of claims: In order to strengthen the investigation and adjudication of claims arising out of collision of vessels, assessors may be tasked by the High Courts to present their findings on the degrees of fault of each vessel.
• India as an Active Enforcement Jurisdiction- The Bill incorporates powers of the Director-General to take action against vessels that are unsafe, and pose a threat to safety of life at sea and environment, and includes a procedure for appeal from detention orders. The Bill also incorporates provisions that encourage active enforcement of pollution prevention standards and the Central Government has been granted the power to mandate compulsory insurance or such other financial security, for pollution damage.

The Bill seeks to provide increased opportunities for investment and provide greater impetus to a self-reliant domestic investment climate in the maritime industry. The provisions regulating the maritime education, training, certification and the recruitment and placement of seafarers and ease of registration of ships under the Indian flag will give an impetus to the quality and quantity of Indian seafarers. Consequently, it will boost employment opportunities for Indian seafarers in the national and international market. The benefits will be extended to ancillary sectors connected with the shipping industry in consonance with ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives of the government.

The draft of the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2020 is issued for seeking the feedback and suggestions from the public. This can be accessed on the link: http://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/Draft_MS_Bill_2020.pdf and suggestions can be sent to msbill2020@gmail.com by 24.12.2020.

It has been a priority of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s government to replace all archaic colonial laws with modern and contemporary International laws with active participation of people to enhance transparency in the governance. For the same, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways recently issued two draft Bills for public consultation, namely ‘Aids to Navigation Bill 2020’ and ‘Coastal Shipping Bill 2020’ and now this historical ‘Draft Merchant Shipping Bill 2020’is being issued, within a short span of time of four months. Moreover, Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 is also under consideration of Rajya Sabha, which has been already passed by Lok Sabha in the last Parliament session. All these Bills are going to generate sweeping waves in the maritime scenario moving India towards a fully developed maritime economy.

Union Minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya unveils plaque of Ministry’s new nomenclature

Union Minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya unveils plaque of Ministry’s new nomenclature

Ministry of Shipping renamed as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Pattan, Pot Parivahan aur Jalmarg Mantralaya)

With the changed name, the Ministry is going to put extra focus on the development of Waterways and coastal shipping: Shri Mansukh Mandaviya

Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the plaque of Ministry’s new nomenclature today in New Delhi.

Ministry of Shipping is renamed as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Pattan, Pot Parivahan aur Jalmarg Mantralaya).

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the renaming of Ministry of Shipping while addressing, through video-conferencing, the inaugural ceremony of Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat on 8 November 2020.

While making this historic announcement, Shri Modi said “Now this Ministry will be known as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. It is being expanded. In most of the developed economies, the Shipping Ministry is also responsible for Ports and Waterways. In India, the Shipping Ministry has been doing a lot of work related to Ports and Waterways. Now with more clarity in the name, more clarity will also come in the work.”

As soon as the Prime Minister announced the name change, the Ministry swung into action to complete all the related formalities. All the formalities were completed within two working days and the official notification of the name change was published in the Gazette of India on 10th November 2020.

During the formal unveiling of plaque ceremony today, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya stated that it is indeed a matter of pride that with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision, the country is moving ahead with a holistic and long-term approach of multi-modal connectivity. He added that he is indeed grateful to Prime Minister for his foresight regarding the expansion of the scope of work as far as ports, shipping and waterways are concerned.

Shri Mansukh Mandaviya stated that “With the changed name, the Ministry is going to put extra focus on the development of Waterways and coastal shipping. Around 1400 km of waterways have already been fully developed and additional 1000 km is being developed on priority for which DPR/feasibility study has been completed. We are also focussing for creation of a Port Grid, encompassing various smaller ports like fisheries port, agriculture port and mineral port etc so that port development and port-led development takes place in the country.” 

Shri Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary & Shri Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, Addl Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Dr. Amita Prasad, Chairman, IWAI, Shri Amitabh Kumar, DG Shipping, Shri T.K. Ramachandran, Chairman, IPA, along with chairmen of all the major ports and senior officials of the Ministry attended the ceremony through video conferencing.

Press Release on Ministry of Shifting renamed as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Water ways

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ro-Pax terminal at Hazira and flagged off the Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat through video conferencing. He also interacted with the local users. He renamed the Ministry of Shipping as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said today, people of Gujarat have got their Diwali gift. Everyone will benefit from this better connectivity.  He added that business will be boosted and connectivity will become faster. He further said RO-PAX service between Hazira and Ghogha has made dreams come true for the people of Saurashtra and South Gujarat, as the journey is shortened from 10-12 hours to 3-4 hours. He said this will save time and expenses will also be reduced. He said about 80000 passenger trains and 30000 trucks will be able to take advantage of this new service in a year.

Shri Modi also said better connectivity between Saurashtra and Surat is going to change the life of the people in these regions. He added fruits, vegetables and milk can now easily be transported and pollution will also be reduced due to this service. He thanked all those engineers, workers, who remained courageous to develop the facility amidst a lot of challenges. He wished the people for this new maritime connectivity established between Bhavnagar and Surat.

The Prime Minister lauded the way Gujarat realized its maritime potential in the last two decades and gave priority to port led development and said it is a matter of pride for every Gujarati. He listed the initiatives of the State Government in developing the maritime potential of the state like drafting a Shipbuilding policy, construction of Shipbuilding Park and Specialized Terminals, promotion of Vessel Traffic Management system and GroundBreaking Connectivity project. He said with these initiatives the port sector has got a new direction. He stressed that efforts were made to modernize the entire ecosystem of the coastal area in addition to developing the physical infrastructure.

The Prime Minister said today, Gujarat has become a gateway of prosperity due to the efforts of the government in ensuring the development of all types of infrastructure in the coastal area. He said over the past two decades, a unique model of integrated port has evolved from traditional port operations in Gujarat and has developed as a benchmark today. He said the result of these efforts is that the ports of Gujarat have emerged as major maritime centers of the country. Last year, it accounted for more than 40 percent of the country's total maritime trade.

The Prime Minister remarked that today, maritime business-related infrastructure and capacity building in Gujarat is in full swing. Many facilities are getting ready in Gujrat like Gujarat Maritime Cluster, Gujarat Maritime University and country’s first CNG Terminal at Bhavnagar. Gujarat Maritime cluster ports to be built in GIFT city would be a dedicated system to address Ports to sea based Logistics. He said that these clusters would help in strengthening the cooperation between the government, industry and educational institutions and will also help in value addition in this sector.

The Prime Minister said that in the recent past India’s first Chemical Terminal was established in Dahej, India’s first LNG terminal was established, now India's first CNG terminal is going to be installed at Bhavnagar Port. In addition facilities like Ro-Ro terminal at Bhavnagar port, Liquid cargo terminal and a new container terminal are being prepared. He said with the addition of these new terminals, the capacity of Bhavnagar port will increase manifold.

The Prime Minister said the government is making efforts to restart the ferry service between Ghogha-Dahej very soon. He said many natural challenges have arisen in this project and efforts are being made to remove them through modern technology. He added Gujarat Maritime University is a big center for getting trained manpower and experts ready for maritime trade. Today, this University provides opportunities to pursue maritime law and international trade law and also MBA in Maritime Management, Shipping and Logistics. He said apart from the university, work is also going on to build the first National Museum to preserve the country's maritime heritage in Lothal.

The Prime Minister said facilities like today's Ro-Pax Ferry service or Sea Plane inaugurated a few days ago, is giving a lot of momentum to water-resource based economy. He said that over the years, serious efforts have also been made to strengthen the Blue Economy in the country. He listed the ecosystems and many schemes made over the years to help the fishermen like financial aid to fishermen for modern trollers or navigation systems that provide accurate information of weather and sea routes. He assured that safety and prosperity of fishermen is the priority of the Government. He added recently launched Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is also promoting fish related trade. Under this scheme, Rs 20 thousand crore would be spent for infrastructure related to fisheries in the coming years.

The Prime Minister said that today, the capacity of the ports have been increased across the nation and construction of new ports is also going on at a faster pace. He added efforts are made to put maximum use of about 21000 km of waterway in the country, for the development of the country. He added today, under the Sagarmala project, work is going on over 500 projects across the country. He said that transportation by waterways is many times cheaper than road and railways and also causes less damage to the environment. Yet work has been done with a holistic approach in this direction only after 2014. He said today work is going on in inland rivers across the country, to connect many Land-locked states to the sea. He added today in the Bay of Bengal, we are developing our capabilities in the Indian Ocean unprecedentedly. The maritime part of the country has emerged as an important part of AtmaNirbhar Bharat.

The Prime Minister renamed the Ministry of Shipping as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. He said in most of the developed countries the Ministry of Shipping handles Ports and Waterways. He added now with more clarity in name, there will be more clarity in the work.

The Prime Minister said to strengthen the Blue Economy's stake in AtmaNirbhar Bharat, there is a great need to strengthen the maritime logistics. He was concerned that today, the cost of carrying goods from one part of the country to another is more than other countries. He suggested that the cost of Logistics can be reduced by water transport. Therefore, he said our focus should be to create an ecosystem where there can be seamless movement of cargo. He added the country is now making rapid strides in the direction of Multimodal Connectivity to reduce logistics costs and efforts have been made to improve connectivity between road, rail, air and shipping infrastructure and also to overcome the silos. He said Multimodal Logistics Parks are being constructed in the country. He added that Multimodal connectivity is being developed with our neighbouring countries also. He wished that with these efforts the cost of Logistics in the country should come down and give impetus to our economy.

The Prime Minister also urged the people to go Vocal for Local during this festive season. He insisted on buying things from small traders, small artisans and rural folks. He said by these efforts light could be lit in the homes of the rural artisans also during Diwali.

Paradip Port Trust observed Rastriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) on 31.10.2020

Paradip Port Trust observed Rastriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) on 31.10.2020 on the occasion of the birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT offered floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel along with other senior officials of PPT. Thereafter, he joined pledge taking ceremony led by Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping through Video Conferencing along with HODs and Dy. HODs of PPT.

In the evening, Shri Roy took salute in the march past by CISF Unit, PPT.

Public Relations Officer,

Paradip Port Trust

Vigilance Awareness Week held at PPT

The valedictory function of observance of the Vigilance Awareness Week by Paradip Port Trust was held in the Officers' Club premises maintaining social distancing norms amid COVID-19 guidelines on 02.11.2020. Shri H.S. Rout, Dy. CVO, Paradip Port Trust while welcoming the guests informed about the programmes undertaken by Vigilance Dept. of PPT for observation of Vigilance Awareness Week at Paradip Port.

Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT said that  leakages in the system should stop and the system should be further streamlined. Shri Roy stressed on faceless bill processing system to be put in place at PPT. COVID-19 pandemic provided a great opportunity to introduce e-office system at PPT. IT Interface will  lead to the goal of transparency leading to better results. Shri Roy appreciated various innovative methods put in place by all the Departments of PPT to help the Port sail through the current difficult times.

Addressing the gathering as Guest of Honour Shri A.K.Bose, Dy.Chairman, PPT told that SOPs and guidelines must be followed sincerely in our date to day work arena, so that the role of Vigilance considerably reduces.

Thereafter, prizes were given to the winners of different competitions organised among the employees and school students through online platform during this week. Shri Nihar Ranjan Ojha, AE(E), Vigilance Dept., PPT presented the vote of thanks.

Public Relations Officer

Paradip Port Trust

Vigilance Awareness Week begins at PPT

As per the directions from Central Vigilance Commission, Paradip Port Trust is observing Vigilance Awareness Week from 27^th October to 2^nd November 2020. The week-long function started with administering pledge by Shri Rinkesh Roy Chairman, PPT to the employees, this morning. As per clarion call given Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for Jan Andolan # Covid -19 appropriate behavior, Social distancing was taken care of along with supply of Face Mask, Shield, Hand Sanitizers and Head Caps to the participants. A spot quiz contest was held among the employees. Online elocution competition among the local school students and other activities related to Vigilance Awareness are scheduled during the week long observance.  PPT employees are also taking integrity e-pledge through PPT Website and the Website of CVC. Each department of PPT is also conducting stakeholders meet during the week for awareness on corruption issues relating to the functioning of their particular departments. Several Hoardings have been displayed in the locality for creating awareness among the public. The Valedictory function will be held on 2^nd Nov. 2020, wherein the prizes will be distributed.

Union Minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates ‘Direct Port Entry Facility’ at V.O. Chidambaranar port

DPE facility is the noteworthy step towards reducing the logistics cost and to increase the velocity of cargo for boosting ease of doing business and economy growth: Shri Mandaviya

Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C), Shri Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the ‘Direct Port Entry (DPE) facility’ of V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust by unveiling the e-plaque.

While addressing the inauguration ceremony through video conference, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya said that this is a noteworthy step towards reducing logistics cost and increasing the velocity of the cargo. DPE will help in increasing Ease of Doing Business for the exporters, as the facility will bring efficiency and reduce dwell time, lower tariff cost and improve the competitiveness of shipper in the international trade.

The state-of-the-art Direct Port Entry (DPE) facility would enable direct movement of containers from factories, without intermediate handling at any CFS, thus facilitating the shippers to Gate-In their factory stuffed exports directly to the Container Terminal on 24x7 basis. The facility is created in an area of 18,357 sqm inside the Truck Parking Terminal which was developed under the ‘Sagarmala’ for issuing customs clearance of export cargo i.e. Factory stuffed/e-sealed containers. It can handle 18000 TEUs per month. Indian Customs through the Central Warehousing Corporation, DPE facility will generate the Let Export Order (LEO) under a single roof without any hassle. A dedicated team of CWC and Customs officials, in association with VOC Port, will serve Tier-II, Tier-III (AEO) certified EXIM clients.

Earlier, the factory stuffed (self-sealed) containers were taken to one of the container freight stations (CFSs) / Inland Container Depot (ICD) operating in Tuticorin. The CFSs operate between 10 am to 8 pm on working days only. Because of it, there was considerable delay in admitting the self-sealed export containers into the container terminals. Hence, Port developed the DPE facility to enable the export clearance of factory stuffed e-sealed containers on a 24x7 basis resulting in faster & cost-effective export admittance. Port entered into an MoU with M/S. Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) to operate the facility for 30 years and the Customs department has also approved operating the DPE facility in the port.

Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, in his address, said that the IT enabled infrastructure at the ports will definitely make our ports ,world class  ports aligning the ‘Maritime Vision 2030’ of Ministry of Shipping.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Shipping, Shri T. K. Ramachandran, Chairman, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust, Shri Arun Kumar Shrivastava, Managing Director, Central Warehousing Corporation and port officials were present in the virtual inauguration.

Amends Right of First Refusal (ROFR) licensing conditions in Shipbuilding

To boost shipbuilding in India, Ministry of Shipping amends Right of First Refusal (ROFR) licensing conditions

A bold step towards ‘AatmaNirbharShipping’ for ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’: Shri Mansukh Mandaviya

In pursuance of ‘Make in India’ policy of the Government of India, Ministry of Shipping has reviewed the ROFR (Right of First Refusal) licensing conditions for chartering of vessels/Ships through tender process for all types of requirements.

To promote the demand of the ships built in India, priority in chartering of vessels is given to vessels built in India, flagged in India and owned by Indians under the amendments in the guidelines of ROFR(Right of First Refusal).

Now it has been decided that for any kind of charter of a vessel undertaken through a tender process, the Right of First Refusal (RoFR) would be exerted in the following manner:

1. Indian built, Indian flagged and Indian owned
2. Foreign built, Indian flagged and Indian owned
3. Indian built, foreign flagged and foreign owned

Provided that:

1. All vessels flying the flag of India (i.e. registered in India) up to the date of issue of new circular by the Director General of Shipping shall be deemed to be Indian built vessels and will fall in category (i) above and

1. The foreign flagged vessels permitted by DG (Shipping) under Section 406 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 for chartering by an Indian citizen/company/society, who is building a ship in an Indian shipyard for registration under the Indian flag, as a temporary substitute for the Indian ship under construction, meeting the following two conditions shall be deemed to fall under Category (i) above.

1. 25% of the contract money has been paid to the Indian shipyard
2. 50% of the hull fabrication has been completed, as certified by Recognised Organisation.

The duration of licence to such chartered vessel shall be limited to the period of building of the ship, as mentioned in the shipbuilding contract.

It is to be noted that Ministry of Shipping has made provision for long-term subsidy for shipbuilding activities under shipbuilding financial assistance policy (2016-2026). The Ministry has already disbursed an amount of Rs 61.05 crores till date under this policy. It is an endeavour of the Government to further incentivise shipbuilding by providing additional market access and business support to ships built in India.

The revised guidelines will give a boost to the domestic shipbuilding and shipping industries. It will encourage the domestic shipping industry to support the domestic shipping industry.

Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) Shri Mansukh Mandaviya said, “Ministry of Shipping is working with a focused approach to promote shipbuilding in India as per AatmaNirbhar Bharat vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The revision of RoFR licensing conditions is a giant step towards AatmaNirbhar Shipping. It will promote ‘Make in India’ initiatives through self-reliance and will give a strategic boost to domestic Ship building industries, contributing towards long-term economic growth of India”.

Shri Mansukh Mandaviya launches “Development of Indigenous Software solution for VTS and VTMS”

VTS/ VTMS is a software for determining vessel positions, position of other traffic or meteorological hazard warnings and extensively manages the traffic within a port or waterway

‘Made In India’ VTS and VTMS software to pave the way for ‘Make for the world’ vessel traffic management systems: Shri Mansukh Mandaviya

Rs. 10 Crore sanctioned to IIT, Chennai for the development of indigenous software solutions

Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) Shri Mansukh Mandaviya e-launched the development of Indigenous Software solution for Vessel traffic services (VTS) and Vessels Traffic Monitoring Systems (VTMS) in New Delhi today

In the inaugural address, Shri Mandaviya put emphasis on the development of indigenous system as per the requirement of the country instead of relying high costing foreign made software solutions for Traffic Managements of the Indian Ports.

Shri Mandaviya said that aligning with the vision of ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ of Prime Minster Shri Narendra Modi, ‘Made In India’ VTS and VTMS software will pave the way for ‘Make for the world’ vessel traffic management systems.

VTS and VTMS is a software which determines vessel positions, position of other traffic or meteorological hazard warnings and extensive management of traffic within a port or waterway. Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) contribute to safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation and protection of the marine environment, adjacent shore areas, work sites and offshore installations from possible adverse effects of maritime traffic. Vessels Traffic Management Systems are installed in some of the busiest waters in the world, and are making valuable contribution to safer navigation, more efficient traffic flow, and protection of the environment. Traffic flow in busy approach routes, access channels, and harbours can be coordinated safely, in the best interest of port and its users. Incidents and emergency situations can be dealt with quickly. Data from traffic movements can be stored and used as reference information for port administration, port authorities, coastguards and search and rescue services.

VTMS is mandatory under IMO Convention SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea). The VTMS traffic image is compiled and collected by means of advanced sensors such as radar, AIS, direction finding, CCTV and VHF or other co-operative systems and services. A modern VTMS integrates all of the information into a single operator working environment for ease of use and in order to allow for effective traffic organization and communication.   

Presently, India has approximately 15 VTS systems operational along the Indian Coast and there is no uniformity of VTS software as each system has its own VTS software. With the indigenous software development in progress the recent positive cooperation with office of Director General of Light and Lighthouses (DGLL) on joint development of the indigenous VTMS software development as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative will strengthen the cooperation in this area. At the same time, it will benefit the port sector, both in India and region. It is expected that a prototype system will be developed in Ten-month time for testing and to operate as a parallel system until it is robust for day to day operations.

Development of the indigenous VTS software will reduce the expenditure of foreign exchange on this issue and also minimize the dependence on foreign support for VTS software. Accordingly, indigenous development of VTS software will benefit with respect to:

1. Saving of foreign exchange for various VTSs in India.
2. VTS Software can be provided to Indian trade friendly nations viz. Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bangladesh and Gulf countries.
3. Will also minimize the cost for future upgradations of software.
4. Shall be easier to interconnect with MIS/ERP softwares of ports.
5. Availability of Indian VTS software shall make Indian companies to be competitive commercially in global bids.

Implementation of National Maritime Domain Awareness programme of Indian Navy and NCVTS by DGLL – a real time, interactive aids to navigation system for coastal shipping shall become feasible with Indian VTS software at low cost.   

Ministry of Shipping has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 10 Crore to IIT, Chennai for development of indigenous VTS software.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Shipping, Chairpersons of the Major Ports and representative of IIT, Chennai were also present through virtual means during the event.

Director General Shipping notified as National Authority for Ships Recycling

Director General Shipping notified as National Authority for Ships Recycling

DG, Shipping designated as an apex authority under the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019 for the ship recycling industry of India

Office of National Authority will be set up in Gandhinagar,Gujarat

Posted On: 15 OCT 2020 1:46PM by PIB Delhi

Central Government has notified the Director General of Shipping as National Authority for Recycling of Ships under the section 3 of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019.

As an apex body,DG Shipping is authorized to administer, supervise and monitor all activities relating to Ship Recycling. DG Shipping will look after the sustainable development of the Ship Recycling industry, monitoring the compliance to environment-friendly norms and safety and health measures for the stakeholders working in the ship recycling industry. DG Shipping will be the final authority for the various approvals required by the Ship-Recycling yard owners and State Governments.

Under Ship Recycling Act, 2019, India has acceded to Hong Kong Convention for Ship Recycling under International Maritime Organization (IMO). DG Shipping is a representative of India in IMO and all the conventions of IMO are being enforced by DG Shipping.

National Authority of Ship Recycling will be set up in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The location of the office will benefit the Ship Recycling yard owners situated in Alang, Gujarat which is home of Asia’s largest ship breaking and ship recycling industry in the world.

Viraat's services do not end here, will provide employment to thousands at Alang : Shri Mandaviya

Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) and Chemical and fertilizers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya bid adieu to Ex-INS Viraat in a ceremony at Alang in Gujarat today. INS Viraat which was decommissioned from the Indian Navy after 30 years of glorious service, reached Alang for recycling.

In his address, Shri Mandaviya said Viraat is longest serving warship which served the nation for 30 years in the Indian Navy. He added that Viraat's services do not end here,  as Viraat has been brought to the home of one of the world's largest ship breaking destination i.e Alang. Here, it will provide employment to thousands of people, the Minister said.The minister said that proposals for converting Viraat into a museum has been received, but it was neither backed by any firm studies nor was financially viable. He also added that the government is planning in advance this time so that the INS ship which will be decommissioned in future, can be converted into museum.The minister also reiterated about creating the state of the art maritime museum at the Lothal, to recreate the history of Harappan civilization.

The Minister said that to create bigger markets for ships recycling industry, India has acceded to ‘Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009’ on 28th November, 2019 and passed the ‘The Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019’. Accession to Hong Kong Convention by India and enactment of Recycling of Ships Act, 2019 raised the profile of our ship recycling industry as being environment friendly and safety conscious and would go a long way in consolidating India's position as the market leader, he added.Shri Mandaviya said that it will also ensure adequate safety of the yard workers, along with boosting employment and business opportunities.

Shri Bhupendra Singh Chudasama, Education Minister, Government of Gujarat, SmtVibhavariben Dave, MLA, Gujarat, Shri Purvir Das, NM Naval commanding officer, Porbandar along with other dignitaries were also present at the occasion.

About INS Viraat

INS Viraat, the second Centaur-Class aircraft carrier in service which has spent 30 years in the Indian Navy and 27 years in the Royal Navy, was decommissioned on 6th March, 2017. INS Viraat holds the world record as mentioned in the Guinness Book of records for being the longest serving warship of the world.Under the Indian Flag, the ship has clocked more than 22,622 flying hours by various aircrafts in the past three decades and has spent nearly 2252 days at sea sailing across 5,88,287 nautical miles (10,94,215 KM). This implies that Viraat has spent seven years at sea, circumnavigating the globe 27 times. Since its inception, the warship has had a total of 80,715 hours of boilers running.‘Mother’, as she was fondly referred to in the Navy, had been commanded by 22 Captains since 1987. She was the Flagship of the Navy since her inception. Around 40 Flag officers including five Chiefs of Naval Staff were raised and groomed in her lap.

About Alang

Alang in Gujrat is one of the world’s biggest ship recycling yards where around 30% of the global ships (250-280) are recycled annually.Alang provides employment to over more than 30,000 people various states, especially from Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Gujarat, and supports 3.5 Lakh people indirectly through other business activities.

Swachhta Pakhwada 2020 at Paradip Port Trust Concludes

Observance of Swachhta Pakhwada concluded at Paradip Port today on 30.09.2020. Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT said that cleanliness drive in the locality in the last few years has resulted in beautification of the Port landscape and brought the Port in the tourism map of the state. The newly launched Road sweeping machine during the period will go a long way in fulfilling the "Go Green" initiative by the Port Authority. PPT's Go Green initiative further got a shot in its arm, as eco-friendly Cotton bags have been distributed among the employees as part of  Swachhata Pakhwada observations at PPT. It will encourage less use of plastic and contribute to a plastic-free, sustainable township. These biodegradable bags are being well received employees.

Public Relations Officer

Paradip Port Trust

Observation of World Maritime Day 2020 by PPT

With the theme, "Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet", Paradip Port observed the 43^rd World Maritime Day, today. Unlike National Maritime Day, there is no fixed date of celebration of World Maritime Day. But generally it is celebrated on last week of September every year. It depends on the individual Governments to decide a suitable date for celebration during last week of September and DG Shipping, Govt. of India has decided and directed to celebrate World Maritime Day on 24^th September 2020 in India for this year. On this occasion, at PPT, Capt. A.K. Mohapatra, Dy. Conservator hoisted the World Maritime Day flag at the Marine Site office in presence of other Sr. Officials of Marine Deptt. Due to threat of spreading of COVID-19, the celebration of World Maritime Day was conducted in a restricted manner this year.  

The significance of this day is to emphasize the importance of International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the maritime sector and to highlight its contribution towards Maritime Safety, Maritime Security and Marine Environment. In simple manner, it can be explained that World Maritime Day is celebrated for carrying out commercial sea transport in a safe, secured and environmental friendly manner for the economic growth of the world.  

The first celebration of World Maritime Day was done on 17^th March 1978 to mark the occasion of enforcing first convention of IMO in 1958 and since then every year, during last week of September, the World Maritime Day is observed globally.

MoU for Reclamation of Crude Oil Import Terminal Plot allotted to NRL at Paradip

For the first time, maintenance dredging material will be utilised for land reclamation of the Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) storage terminal at Paradip. Shri Mansukh Mandavyia, Hon'ble Minister of Shipping has been encouraging Ports for such beneficial reuse of dredge material. This is a unique initiative being taken by Dredging Corporation of India with PPT & NRL.

NRL entered into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Paradip Port Trust (PPT) and Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) for reclamation of the proposed 200 acres of land allotted to NRL for setting up its Crude Oil import terminal (COIT) at Paradip Port.

An MoU was signed to this effect today at Paradip amongst Capt. A K Mahapatra; Dy. Conservator PPT, CGM DCI- Capt S Divakar and DGM (Projects Pipeline) NRL - Shri A J Phukan in presence of Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman PPT, MD NRL - Shri S K Barua & MD DCI- Mr. Rajesh Tripathi and other senior officials from all the three organizations.

The Terminal is being set up as part of NRL’s  integrated Refinery Expansion project that is being implemented at an estimated cost of more that Rs. 22 thousand Crore. The mega project envisages amongst others, import of Crude Oil at Paradip port and laying of pipeline to Numaligarh to transport the same.  Project activities have gathered pace after receipt of  Environmental Clearance  in the month of July 2020.

DCI shall start the dredging activity from mid-November 2020 and is expected to complete the reclamation work of COIT plot within a period of 7 months.

PPT flagged off Swachhata Rath

As a part of ongoing “Swachhata Pakhwada” observations, a “Swachhata Rath” was flagged off by Shri S K Barua, MD, Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) & Shri Rajesh Tripathi, MD, Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) in presence of Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT from the Administrative Building premises to create awareness about COVID-19, cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation in the locality. Other Sr. Officials of the above organisations also attended the event.

The Rath will move around the Port Township in the coming days to spread awareness among the denizens of Paradip about the need of cleanliness, sanitation and motivate them to fight against COVID-19.

Direct cargo ferry service between India and Maldives starts

Another milestone in the comprehensive bilateral relations between India and Maldives: Shri Mandaviya

Posted On: 21 SEP 2020 4:28PM by PIB Delhi

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Shipping, Shri MansukhMandaviya and Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Maldives, Ms AishathNahula, today jointly e- launched a direct cargo ferry service between India and Maldives.

During its maiden voyage, a vessel with a capacity of 200 TEU and 3000 MT of break bulk cargo will sail from Tuticorin to Kochi today, from where it will proceed to Kulhudhuffushi port in North Maldives and then to Male port. It is scheduled to reach Kulhudhuffushi on September 26, 2020 and Male on September 29, 2020. This ferry service, being operated by the Shipping Corporation of India, will run twice a month and will provide a cost effective, direct and alternate means of transportation of goods between India and Maldives.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Shipping, Shri Mandaviyanoted that this service is another milestone in the comprehensive bilateral relations between India and Maldives. He mentioned that this direct cargo service will further cement the close ties between India and Maldives by enhancing people-to-people contact and boosting bilateral trade.

The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Maldives, Ms AishathNahula expressed deep appreciation for the launch of the service as reflective of the close ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Maldives.

The launch of this service concretely fulfils the commitment made by Prime Minister Shri NarendraModi during his visit to Maldives in June last year and the announcement made by External AffairsMinister  Dr S. Jaishankar during his virtual meeting with the Foreign Minister of Maldives on August 13, 2020.

The senior officials of the Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of External Affairs of India and officials of Maldives were also present.

Shri Mansukh Mandavyia, Hon'ble Shipping Minister appreciates the rescue operations of 'MT New Diamond'

Shri Mansukh Mandavyia, Hon'ble Shipping Minister, Govt. of India today had an interaction with DG, Indian Coast Guard in New Delhi about the rescue operations of 'MT New Diamond'. MT New Diamond is a very large crude carrier. On 3rd September 2020, the ship caught fire off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, resulting in the death of a Filipino crew member.  The ship was at that time about 65 kilometres east of Sri Lanka in the Sangaman Kanda Point. At the time, the ship was carrying 270,000 tonnes of oil from Kuwait to the Paradip refinery in India, with 18 Filipino and five Greek crewmembers on board. The cargo was loaded on 23rd August 2020 at Mina al Ahmadi and was due to arrive at Paradip on 5th September. The ship was chartered for the voyage by the Indian Oil Corporation. After burning intermittently for almost a week, the fire was reported to be extinguished by 11th September, 2020.

Indian Coast Guard's timely action resulted in NO Oil Spill and minimal damage. It was indeed one of the biggest rescue operations in the maritime history of the world.

Swachhata Pakhwada 2020 at Paradip Port Trust

The PPT began the observance of “Swachhta Pakhwada”, as per instructions from the Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India. It started with a Swachhata Pledge administered by Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT to HoDs and Dy.HoDs at the Portico in front of PPT Administrative Building. Due to COVID-19 Guidelines, different Head of Offices and that staff took pledge in their respective office premises maintaining social distancing norms. On the occasion, Shri Roy flagged off a Mechanical Road Sweeping Machine with Make in India concept. This Road Sweeping machine will be plying on routes outside the Harbour area under the supervision of Shri M R Sutar, Executive Engineer, PPT.

The PPT has already drawn up a detailed Action plan for the period, as part of  Swachhta Pakhwada viz., awareness drive among workers and staff of all Departments & Divisions of PPT, swachhata awareness hoardings and digital display at important locations in the township, with special emphasis on the theme “Maintain cleanliness, Eradicate Corona”.

Due to the corona crisis and Unlock guidelines, social distancing is being given special emphasis in various events to be undertaken during the Pakhwada period.

Shri Mansukh Mandaviya launches ‘SAROD-Ports’

SAROD-Ports is Affordable Dispute Redressal Mechanism for all kind of disputes of maritime sector

It will become the pivotal mechanism of ummeed (hope), vishwas(trust) and nyaya (justice) in the Port sector of India: Shri Mandaviya

Posted On: 10 SEP 2020 3:13PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) Shri Mansukh Mandaviya today launched ‘SAROD-Ports’ (Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes - Ports) through virtual ceremony today in New Delhi.

Speaking at the launching, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya termed SAROD-Ports as a game changer and added that it will become the pivotal mechanism of ummeed (hope), vishwas(trust) and nyaya (justice) in the Port sector of India. Shri Mandaviya also added that enforcement of concession agreements in the letter and spirit is on the utmost priority. SAROD-Ports will resolve the disputes in fair and just manner while saving huge amount of legal expenditure and time.

Dr Sanjiv Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping said that all major Ports are shifting towards ‘Landlord Model’ in the days to come. Many concessioners will be working with the Major Ports. SAROD-Ports will inspire confidence in the private players and will ensure right kind of environment for our partners. It will promote ease of doing business in the maritime sector because of the fast, timely, cost effective and robust dispute resolution mechanism.

SAROD-Ports is established under Societies Registration Act, 1860 with the following objectives:

1.    Affordable and timely resolution of disputes in fair manner

2.    Enrichment of Dispute Resolution Mechanism with the panel of technical experts as arbitrators.

SAROD-Ports consists members from Indian Ports Association (IPA) and Indian Private Ports and Terminals Association (IPTTA).

SAROD-Ports will advise and assist in settlement of disputes through arbitrations in the maritime sector, including ports and shipping sector in Major Port Trusts, Non-major Ports, including private ports, jetties, terminals and harbours. It will also cover disputes between granting authority and Licensee/Concessionaire /Contractor   and also disputes between Licensee/Concessionaire and their contractors arising out of and during the course of execution of various contracts.

‘SAROD-Ports’ is similar to provision available in Highway Sector in the form of SAROD-Roads constituted by NHAI.

Backgrounder:

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved amendments in the Model Concession Agreement (MCA) .In January,2018.The amendments in the MCA, envisaged constitution SAROD-PORTS as dispute resolution mechanism for PPP Projects in the Major Ports.

Major Ports to use only Indian built tug boats now onwards

A step towards bolstering the revival of Indian Ship building and a big move towards AatmaNirbhar Shipping in AatmaNirbhar Bharat : Shri Mandaviya

Posted On: 04 SEP 2020 4:00PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Shipping has directed all major ports to procure or charter tug boats which are only made in India.  All procurements being done by major ports would now need to be carried out as per the revised ‘Make in India’ Order. 

The Ministry of Shipping is aiming to promote Indian shipbuilding industry and also have discussion with some leading countries for Make in India shipbuilding.  In the meantime, this decision of the Government will be a big move towards realizing Make in India in shipbuilding.

Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C), Shri MansukhMandaviya said that the Government is taking 360 degree actions to revive old shipyards and promote shipbuilding in India. It is a step towards bolstering the revival of Indian Ship building and a big move towards AatmaNirbhar Shipping in AatmaNirbhar  Bharat. The Government will try to create an ecosystem for shipbuilding, ship repair, ship recycling and flagging in India.  AatmaNirbhar Shipping is going to be the order in the coming times.

Procurement/chartering of port crafts would need to be aligned with the revised Make in India Order to promote shipbuilding in India.  It is proposed to set up a Standing Specifications Committee under Managing Director, Indian Ports Association and comprising representatives from Cochin Ship Yard Limited (CSL), Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and Director General of Shipping.

Standing Specifications Committee would shortlist around five variants/types of tugs and prepare a ‘Approved StandardizedTug Design and Specifications.’ (ASTDS).  This ASTDS would outline specifications, general arrangements, basic calculations, basic structural drawings, key system drawings and other construction standards, etc.  These standards would be vetted by the Standing Specifications Committee and, thereafter, certified ‘in-principle’ by IRS and published by the Indian Ports Association on its website.

The Ministry will also provide some window to Major Ports so that construction time would be availed.

Recently, Government owned Cochin Shipyard Limited has been successful in grabbing the order for two automated vessels from Norwegian Government.  These will be the first of its kind unmanned vessels. Various decisions taken by the Ministry of Shipping will turn around Ship Building sector in the near future.

Rapid antigen tests begins at PPT Hospital

The PPT Hospital started conducting rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 on a large scale from today. It is Standard 'Q' Covid Antigen Test from nasal swab as per ICMR guidelines. It will cover all the PPT employees. The results of the tests will come within half an hour. Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT has said that this will eliminate the long waiting time, resulting in quick isolation of the positive patients.

Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman and Shri Moloy Dasgupta, Chief Engineer, PPT witnessed the whole procedure of testing, today.

Out of 7 samples collected today, one has been tested positive. He is a contact of previously positive case.

Public Relations Officer

Paradip Port Trust

Ministry of Shipping has facilitated more than 1 lakh crew change in Indian ports and charted flights

Ministry of Shipping has facilitated more than 1 lakh crew change in Indian ports and charted flights

India is the only country with highest crew change in the world;

Shri Mansukh Mandaviya lauds the efforts to facilitate stranded seafarers during the pandemic

Posted On: 25 AUG 2020 3:26PM by PIB Delhi

Ministry of Shipping has facilitated more than 1,00,000 crew change on Indian ports and through charter flights. It is the highest number of crew changes in the world. Crew change consists of replacing one of the ship’s crew members with another one and involves sign-on the ships and sign-off the ships procedures.

Maritime sector is among the worst hit sectors due to Corona pandemic. Despite that, all the Indian Ports were operational and providing essential services throughout the pandemic and main pillar for the smooth supply chain for India and world were the seafarers. Seafarers had to suffer due to closing of Sign on & Sign-off and lockdowns and movement restrictions imposed by the various countries worldwide. 

Union Minister of State (I/C) for Shipping, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya has appreciated the continued efforts done by the DG, Shipping during the briefing, especially for facilitating the stranded seafarer during this difficult time. Minister instructed DG Shipping to come up with robust grievances redress mechanism to facilitate the seafarers. He has strongly emphasized to ensure that seafarers should be able to approach the ministry during the difficult time and no seafarer should suffer due to poor grievance redress system.

To sustain the maritime transportation during the pandemic situation, DG Shipping has taken various initiatives like extensions of various certificates required for sailing, Online E-pass facility for travel etc. “An online utility has been created for verification of seafarers for charted flights and for uploading details of stranded seafarers along with online ship registrations and online charter licensing”, DG, Shipping Shri Amit Kumar added while briefing the Minister.

DG Shipping received communications via emails, tweets, and letters from more than 2000 Maritime Stakeholders and took immediate responsive action to facilitate their needs. E-learning for module courses and online virtual course have also been conducted by DG shipping and more than 35,000 students enrolled for e-learning. Online Exit Exam is being conducted for the seafarers after completing online courses and they can now appear in the exam from the comfort of their homes in this unprecedented time of COVID-19 pandemic.

PPT Celebrates Independence Day 2020

Independence Day was celebrated by Paradip Port Trust Authority with a great passion following the COVID-19 guidelines. Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT unfurled the National Flag and reviewed the parade in which 3 contingents of CISF, participated.

Addressing the gathering, he said that The Port first crossed the coveted 100 MMPTA in FY 2017-18 and has now become the No.1 Major Port in the country for the 1st quarter of FY 2020-21. While this achievement gives immense happiness, which is shared by people all across the state of Odisha, but we have to now shoulder even bigger responsibilities to retain the No. 1 position in the country. With berthing of “M V Damu Bhum”, the container vessel from Port Klang in Malaysiaan EXIM service has started in the Port, to export polymer products from Paradip refinery. This service will further help hundreds of small entrepreneurs of Odisha.

Cargo handling operations have commenced in the newly developed Iron Ore (Export) Berth of 10 MTPA capacity. Development of New Coal Berth for handling of Coal Imports on BOT basis (PPP), of 10 MTPA Capacity, with an estimated cost of Rs. 655.56 Crs. is in progress and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Mechanization of EQ-1, EQ-2 & EQ-3 berths, of 30 MTPA Capacity, with an estimated cost of Rs. 1437.76 Crs. is in progress and is also expected to be completed by the year end. LPG Terminal at South Oil Jetty is being developed by IOCL of 0.75 MTPA capacity at an estimated cost of Rs. 690 Crores, is expected to be completed by March 2021. The Port has taken up the project of “Deepening and optimization of Inner harbour facilities including development of Western Dock”, of 25 MTPA Capacity, on PPP mode to handle Cape size vessels, with an estimated cost of Rs. 3004.63 Crs., which is now in Government approval stage. MoU for a Riverine Port in the Mahanadi River mouth at Paradip (i.e. Port within a Port), is under process for signing with the State Government. As a part of development of Smart Industrial Port City, Paradip Port will segregate its cargo traffic from the passenger traffic, for which a second exit road-cum-fly over shall be implemented at a cost of Rs.92.00 crores. This will ensure safety in road movement and clean environment to the commuters. Another bridge shall also be constructed adjacent to the old Atharbanki Bridge for congestion free movement to the Fishery Harbour Road and the Port premises.

PPT is a glowing example of how the Central and State Govt. have put their combined efforts for meeting the Covid challenge. PPT Authority has signed MoU with Odisha Govt. for dedicated 65 bedded Covid Care Hospital, which is functional at Biju Yatri Niwas, Paradip. PPT has sanctioned Rs. 2.00 Cr. A 200 bed COVID Care Center has been recently inaugurated at PPT Trade Center Building. It is beautifully made in shortest possible time where asymptomatic and mild symptoms patients from the locality, can be treated. District Administration has appreciated our gesture of sparing the building. PPT has also established a 50 bedded Covid Care Center at the "Port Club", for its employees.

As the Port tries to maintain operational efficiency, it is also striving to be efficient in keeping the port neat and clean through routine sanitization and by maintaining social distance norms. Dedicated teams regularly carry out disinfection activities inside port prohibited area besides ensuring mandatory use of face masks by all the personnel. Disinfectant fumigation is being undertaken in the Port Township, PPT Administrative Building, Quarantine Centres and PPT Hospital by deploying Mist Cannons. State-of-the-Art Respiratory Infection Isolation ward is going to be constructed soon within the existing PPT Hospital premises to treat Covid-19 like diseases.  During Cyclone “Amphan”, the Port took active steps to ensure uninterrupted availability of electricity and drinking water. The food distribution among the evacuees at cyclone shelters, even found mention in the Prime Minister’s “Man ki Baat”.

Thereafter, Shri Roy awarded scholarships to Class X toppers in different education boards among the schools of the Port township. Parents of the students received the scholarships on behalf of them. PPT hospital, Marine Pilots, Mist Cannon operators undertaking sanitisation works were felicitated as “COVID WARRIORS”. 3 CISF personnel, who have recovered from Corona were also felicitated on the occasion.

PPT sets up Covid Care Center at "Port Club"

In view of growing cases of Covid-19 infections, Paradip Port Trust has established a 50 bedded Covid Care Center at the "Port Club", for its employees, which became functional today. Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT assured that PPT will leave unturned to fight the pandemic. In view of rapid growth in corona patients, the state govt. has asked the corporates to make their own covid care center.
Asymptotic or Port employees having mild symptoms will be housed in the center and they will be provided with the face mask to cover their nose and face. Home isolation for mild/asymptomatic cases is recommended, if a separate room with toilet facility is available under the same roof. All the houses in Port Township don't have such facilities. Besides in a building, there are 4 to 6 quarters. If anybody is legally subjected to home isolation, all other families in the same building might be in dilemma. Hence mild or asymptomatic people may be in a better condition at this new Covid Care Center. The biomedical waste will be safely disposed of following the Biomedical Waste Management Act. All protocols of Covid Management will be strictly followed.

Telemedicine facilities on whatsapp

Van Mahotsav Week celebrated at PPT

Coinciding with Van Mahotsav Week celebrations throughout the country, a plantation drive was conducted at the side of Paradip Marine Drive Road, near the Light House by PPT. With the world fighting a pandemic together and the country in Unlock 2.0, this year Van Mahotsav programme was conducted by PPT in a simple manner, following social distancing norms. PPT intends to plant around 1 lakh trees in this fiscal in the locality and till date, 25,000 saplings are already planted in the locality. As the part of a mass plantation drive, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT, today planted a sapling, followed by Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT, HODs  and other Sr. Officials of PPT, present on the occasion. 

       The plantation drive under the aegis of PPT, is being executed through Odisha Forest Development Corporation. As part of this plantation drive, the casuarina forests that have been depleted near the beach area are being planned for rejuvenation along with tree cover on the Fishery Harbour & Mahanadi Mouth area. The township is being planted with fruit bearing trees. All this will help to restore the tree cover that has been destroyed by cyclones in the last 10 to 15 years.

Riding high in terms of Cargo, PPT becomes Numero Uno among Major Ports of India in Q1 of FY 2020-21

As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to stifle the global supply chain, the maritime industry is no doubt facing a daunting task to function smoothly.  In spite of all the obstacles, the team PPT has come out with flying colours and has clocked a remarkable 25.73 Million Metric Tonnes cargo handling mark and becoming the No. 1 Major Port of India. Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT and Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT have conveyed their gratitude to all employees, Unions, State Government, District Administration, Importers, Exporters, Stevedores, Steamer Agents, Port Users and other stakeholders, with whose regular support, a new chapter could be written in the history of the Port. The encouragement and guidance shown by the Hon'ble Minister of Shipping, Shri Mansukh Mandviya and Secretary Shipping, Shri Sanjeev Ranjan, helped the Port to scale new heights.

PPT allays fear about community spreading of Corona in the locality

PPT has ruled out any chance of community spreading of Corona in the locality, in the light of one crew of Indian Crew of from the Cargo Ship, MV ALONISSOS, being tested positive. The ship berthed at Mechanised Iron Ore Berth on 13^th June, 2020 for loading. As per protocol given by DG (Shipping), one of the crew from Tamilnadu, signed off and was quarantined at Govt. prescribed Quarantine Centre. On arrival, he had no symptoms. From quarantine centre, his swab has gone for testing and was found positive. Only two persons who have come with him in direct contact, the driver of vehicle and the representative of the concerned shipping agency have been subjected to quarantine, as precautionary measure. Hence, there shouldn’t be any panic in the locality.

The DG (Shipping), Ministry of Shipping, had prescribed a detailed SOP and protocol with regard to sign-on and sign-off to be followed for controlled crew change of Indian seafarers at Indian ports and anchorages, which is being followed not only at PPT, but across all Indian Ports. To facilitate and regulate crew change for seafarers, the Ministry of Home Affairs had also issued an SOP on April 21 to permit the movement of persons to sign on and sign off at Indian ports. The Port deals with the case as per the prescribed protocol of Govt., similar to the quarantine procedures of migrant workers.

As per laid down guidelines by Ministry of Shipping, PPT Authority has been monitoring the deadly COVID 2019 situation and put various measures in place to prevent any possible outbreak. Sanitisation inside the prohibited areas, social distancing, thermal scanning, hand sanitisation, use of nose masks inside the prohibited area and the offices, have been strictly enforced. PPT is following well defined standard protocol, as prescribed by District Administration. All precautions are being taken and people should not fall prey to panic and rumours.

Observation of “World Environment Day 2020” at PPT

With the theme - “Celebrate Biodiversity”, PPT observed today World Environment Day 2020. With the world fighting a pandemic together and the country in extended lockdown, this year plantation programme was conducted by PPT in a simple manner, following social distancing norms. PPT intends to plant around 1 lakh trees in this fiscal in the locality. As the part of a mass plantation drive, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT planted a sapling at the Golf Course of PPT. It was followed by plantation in the premises of Paradip Sakshyarata Samiti. The plantation drive under the aegis of PPT, will be executed through Odisha Forest Development Corporation. As part of this plantation drive, the casuarina forests that have been depleted near the beach area are being planned for rejuvenation along with tree cover on the Fishery Harbour & Mahanadi Mouth area. The township will be planted with fruit bearing trees. All this will help to restore the tree cover that has been destroyed by cyclones in the last 10 to 15 years.   

Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT, HODs and other officials of PPT along with officials of OFDC also participated in the plantation programme.

PPT hands over Rs.10 lakhs of insurance sum to the kin of deceased worker

PPT has taken a personal accident package for its workers & labourers, who are entering the restricted area having valid entry passes, as a welfare measure. In case of accidental death, the sum assured to the next of kin of the deceased is Rs. 10 lakhs.

Accordingly, the first claim settlement has been executed at PPT today and a cheque in this regard in favour of late Shri Dushasan Pradhan was handed over to his wife, Smt. Prabhasini Pradhan, by FA & CAO of PPT, Shri S.K. Sahu, in presence of Shri S.K. Mishra, TM, PPT.

Dedication of the state-of-the-art equipment at PPT Hospital

State-of-the-Art Portable X-Ray Machine and Biochemistry Auto Analyser were dedicated to service of the patients, this morning, during a ribbon cutting ceremony held at PPT Hospital. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT inaugurated both the machines in presence of Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT, Shri Himanshu Sekhar Rout, Dy. Chief Engineer, Dr. P. Panda, CMO, PPT Hospital and other staff of the Hospital, who were present on the occasion

       During natural disasters, it was becoming difficult to manage the investigations, like Blood Tests & X-Ray etc., if, there was any breakdown of the main equipment, since a lot people in the locality are dependent on PPT Hospital. Portable X-Ray will be useful to make x-Ray examination of patients at the bed side of the seriously ill patients. Previously, it was required to move the patient for such examination. Further, X-ray examinations of suspects of COVID-19 are now possible in the Flu OPD (Acute Respiratory Infection OPD), situated totally outside the main hospital building, minimizing the chances of spread of cross infection. Previously, such X-ray examination was being performed in the Radiology Department, situated inside the main hospital building, which was being mandatorily sanitised, thereafter. 

PPT GEARS UP FOR CYCLONE "AMPHAN"

PPT appeals to local fishermen to use designated channel and not to use any short-cut while going into the sea

 Chairman, Paradip Port Trust, Shri Rinkesh Roy while addressing the Press today, reiterated the successful completion of dredging operations at Mahanadi River Mouth. The navigational channel having 1Km length and 100 meter width was carried out by the Dredger of Dredging Corporation of India Ltd, which completed on 26th February, 2020. He appealed to the local fishermen to use designated channel and not use any short-cut while venturing into the sea. Marine department of PPT has already installed 4 temporary buoys in the channel with proper marking, which is clearly visible. Shri Roy informed that 3.5 meters depth is maintained in the designated channel of the River mouth even during the low tide. To impart training to the fishermen, Sr. Hydrographic Surveyor of PPT will conduct a training programme regarding GPS Co-ordination with proper latitude an longitude tomorrow. Shri Roy, cautioned that fishing trawlers not following the designated channel will be at risk of stranding. It may be noted that the Integrated Fishery Harbour is operational at Paradip located in the right bank of Mahanadi River about 1km upstream of the river mouth, for which maintenance dredging is required in regular intervals. The fishery harbour is presently managed by the Odisha State Government Fisheries Department. The local fishing community has been facing difficulties as the river mouth has been silted up over the years and the fishing vessels face hindrance to navigate during approach/exit from the fishery harbour. The Mahanadi River Mouth was last dredged almost 20 years back.

            Highlighting various steps undertaken by PPT Administration to prevent any possible outbreak of COVID 2019 in the locality, he said that the ships coming to the Port from the hotspot countries, where, there is reporting of maximum outbreak of corona virus, those ships are subjected to quarantine of mandatory 14 days in the anchorage area and the Master of Vessel, sends the health status of its crew members twice a day to the designated Medical Team of PPT. After quarantine period, the Port Health Officer or the Chief Medical Officer, PPT boards and screens the crew and if everything is alright, then the ship is allowed to undertake Cargo operations. As the Limited Pratique is in place, no shore leaving permission is given to the crew. In case of Indian crew, if there is any essential requirement, then he is subjected to medical screening and thermal scanning at Gate No. 4. As a precautionary measure, disposal of waste or faecal matter from the ships berthing, locally, is not permitted. All precautions are being taken and people; should not be sued by the false rumours.

             Cautioning about hard summer days ahead, Chairman, PPT appealed to the inhabitants of township to cope up with one time water supply very soon. Repair work of Taladanda canal will begin near SCB Medical College, Cuttack, and will continue till 31^st  May, 2020. Hence, Port Administration is trying to revive the water intake point at Choudhurygada and draw maximum possible water in next few days. The reservoirs of PPT can meet the water demand of township for 30-35 days with one time supply, otherwise the capacity is for 17-20 days. Besides, for water sprinkling activities, treated water from STPs will be utilized. He requested the inhabitants of Paradip to use water judiciously, without unnecessary wastage.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S WEEK

Observation of International Women's Week by Working Women Cell, PPT came to an end today with valedictory function held at Conference Hall of Officer's club. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest Dr. Minati Behera, Chairperson of Odisha State Commission for Women, said that, if any woman is subjected to any kind of violence, then other women should come in support of her without any prejudices. Awareness should be created among the women about their rights and they should try to be economically independent. The commission will serve as a watchdog for protection of their rights. Addressing the gathering, Ms. Snehanjali Mohanty, Member of Odisha State Commission for Women deliberated on various laws framed by the Govt. to enable them for their right to equality and live with dignity. Guest of Honour, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT hoped that this type of deliberation will immensely help the women folk of the locality to understand their rights. Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT said that despite 74 years of independence, right to equality still remains a distant dream for women. Smt. Subhalaxmi Roy, President, Paradip Ladies Club highlighted the challenges faced by working women in their day to day life. Com-peering the programme, Shri Saroj Kumar Das, CME told that inspite of progress of Civilisation, still gender inequality exits in the society in the name of tradition, due to ignorance of their legal rights by the women. This kind programme will eventually create awareness among them and they will take a stand against the menace of inequality.

Coinciding with the observation of International Women’s Day on 8^th March 2020 various competitions like song, dance, debate and sports competitions were held among the members of the Working Women Cell. The winners were awarded today by the Chief Guest and other dignitaries present on the occasion. Smt. Susmita Samal, Chairperson of the Working Women Cell, PPT gave the welcome speech and Smt. Bijaylaxmi Mohapatra, Convenor offered the vote of thanks.

CORONA TRAINING

A local level training programme on COVID 2019 was organized at PPT Hospital conference hall on 11.03.2020 at 15:30 Hrs. as per the instruction of the MoHFW, GOI. Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT declared the training session open, in the presence of Dr P. Panda, CMO, PPT. Speaking on the occasion, he reiterated that Paradip Port Trust will not leave any stone unturned to prevent the entry of any infectious disease, including the COVID-19 through this Port. He told that the Port is fully prepared to tackle the unfolding scenario of the spreading of the viral disease to more than 115 countries and territories; affecting nearly 1,18,000 people globally. The Deputy Chairman, PPT emphasized on the protection of the healthcare workforce, while on duty in the current situation, so that they can take care of the others. 

Imparting training to the gathering of principals/headmasters of local schools, representatives from stevedores and steamer agents, local CISF and Coast Guard unit, doctors and paramedics of Port Hospital and representatives from various departments, Dr. P. Panda highlighted practice of various precautionary and self-protection measures for the prevention of the disease. Local media were urged to use their platforms to focus on dissemination of basic public health measures viz. washing hands, cough etiquette, avoiding unnecessary travel, staying alert for signs and symptoms (coughing, fever and difficulty in breathing) of the disease, maintaining hygiene of commonly infected surfaces like table tops, computer keyboards and mobile screens etc.

The meeting was concluded with unanimous decision by all the participants to sensitize others, in turn, on the basic public health measures to be adopted for the prevention of the disease.

SAFETY WEEK CONCLUSION

“Enhance Safety & health performance by use of Advance Technologies” as the theme, observation of the 49th National Safety Week concluded this afternoon at Paradip Port Trust. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri Madhabananda Biswal, Commandant, CISF Unit, PPT lowered the National Safety week Flag at an event held at Gate No. 4, in presence of Shri Moloy Dasgupta, Shri S.K. Das, CME, PPT, Shri Deepak Rath, Dy. CME, Shri Chandan Panigrahi, Dy. CEE and Shri P. Gopinath, Asst. Director, Dock Safety along with other officials PPT and various stakeholders. A tribunal salute was offered by Shri R.N. Panigrahi, Safety Officer, PPT. Addressing the gathering, Shri Biswal said that safety and security are like two faces of the same coin and they go hand in hand and safety should not be neglected at any cost. Shri P. Gopinath, Asst. Director urged everybody to continue safety practices in their day to day life. Saftey Rath and Safety Rally have been the major highlights of the week long celebrations.

Thereafter, the winners of various competitions like safety essay, debate and poster competitions, organised on the occasion, were awarded. Shri S.K. Das, CME, PPT gave the welcome address and called upon all the stakeholders to make Safety a way of Life. Shri R.N. Panigrahi, Safety Officer, PPT offered the vote of thanks.

Indian crew hospitalised with suspected symptoms Chairman, PPT allays fear about Covid-19

An Indian crew of cargo vessel MT Chemstar Stellar, waiting in the anchorage, developed the symptoms of fever and sore throat, raising suspicion of possible novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on 02.03.2020. He along with all the crews were examined on Board today by the PPT Hospital Medical Team in consultation with the Port Health Officer. He along with his wife were transferred to SCB Medical College, Cuttack for further evaluation and management following the strict protocol for the same. 

The vessel was carrying 20,000 MT Sulphuric Acid, came to anchorage of Paradip Port on 1st March, 2020. It has a travel history from China, South Korea and Singapore from 10th February, 2020. The Master of the vessel informed about the symptoms on 02.03.2020 at 1.30 PM.  

Addressing the media, here, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT, today, allayed the fear about outbreak of Covid-19 in the locality. He said that, as per laid down procedures, PPT Marine & Hospital Staff in close coordination with Port Health Officer, CDMO, Jagatsinghpur, SCB Medical College and District Administration decided to evacuate the crew to SCB Medical College. The team lead by Capt. Nimai Charan Pursty, Pilot, PPT, Dr. P. Panda, CMO, PPT Hospital and Shri Dipti Ranjan Dash, Technician boarded the vessel with full protective gears (PPEs) and the vessel was brought to the IFFCO Berth for 15 minutes. After the evacuation of crew along with his wife, the cabin of the ship was sanitized as per protocol. The vessel was returned to the anchorage. The evacuated crew was in stable condition and reached SCB Medical College safely. There, the affected will be tested for the novel coronavirus and will be managed further. The Paradip Police provided all support to escort the ambulance to Cuttack.  Capt. A.K. Mohapatra, Dy. Conservator, PPT and Capt. A.C. Sahu, Harbour Master were also present during today’s presser. 

49th National Safety Day/Week begins at Paradip Port Trust

“Enhance Safety & health performance by use of Advance Technologies” as the theme, observation of the 49^th National Safety Day and Week began at Paradip Port Trust. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT inaugurated Safety Week Celebrations. At an event held at Gate No. 4, he hoisted the Safety Flag and administered safety oath to employees and workers present there.

Addressing the gathering, he highlighted about various drastic safety measures undertaken during the last 4 years by the Port Authority to establish synergy between health, technology and infrastructure and urged all the stakeholders to put their best efforts forward to make PPT No. 1 in the country in terms of safety measures. Shri Roy told about, how the general safety culture has been inculcated at the grass-root level like helmet, safety shoes and florescent jackets for workers. Now, 300 High Mast lights have been installed in the prohibited area, which stood at 78, just four years ago. Health Audits of 4 decades old berths have been conducted and E&M Deptt. has undertaken similar audits for mechanical equipments. At level crossings, Sensors, Red Light, Hooter are in place. Health check up of workers and employees have been made mandatory. As part of health measures, to prevent corona outbreak, thermal scanners are in place. He urged the Medical, Traffic and E&M Teams of PPT to start a drive against alcohol drinking on the occasion, by using Breathalyzers and random checking in the port prohibited area and take strict action against culprits. He hoped that the work and safety culture of PPT will be a Model for other Ports to follow. A Food vehicle was launched by Chairman, PPT for distribution of food materials among workers as per their convenience inside prohibited area.

Guest of Honor, Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT in his address said that, safety is responsibility of all and one must strictly follow safety rules, especially in operational area, apart from maintaining cleanliness and keeping himself healthy and fit. Shri B. Gopinath, Asst. Director, Dock Safety highlighted the safety measures required to reduce the accidents and any kind of mishaps. HODs of PPT and Commandant, CISF Unit, PPT were among the other dignitaries present on the occasion.

Shri Saroj Kumar Das, CME, PPT in his welcome address, stressed upon Industrial Safety and focused upon Illumination, Cleanliness and Lubrication, Announcing about various programmes to be undertaken during the week long programme, he called upon all the stakeholders to participate in various competitions like debate, essay, slogan writing etc. in large numbers. Shri R.N. Panigrahi, Safety Officer, PPT offered the vote of thanks.

Earlier, in the morning, Shri A.K. Bose, Dy. Chairman, PPT has flagged off Safety Rath and Safety Rally from ADM Office, Paradip to Gate No. 4 to make the inhabitants of the township aware about safety a way of life.

PPT brings back Smile on the faces of Local Fishing Community in 2020 Dredging at Mahanadi River Mouth Completed

Chairman, Paradip Port Trust, Shri Rinkesh Roy while addressing the press on 27.02.2020 announced the completion of dredging operations at Mahanadi River Mouth. This work was carried out by the Dredger of Dredging Corporation of India Ltd., which commenced on 02.01.2020.

It may be noted that the Integrated Fishery Harbour was constructed by PPT with the aid of Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India. The aim was to avoid eventualities inside the commercial harbour during shipping operations. The construction of Fishery Harbour was completed during 1995 and it was commissioned during 1998. Subsequently, it was handed over to Govt. of Odisha on 27.09.2011. The fishery harbour is operational at Paradip located in the right bank of Mahanadi River about 1km upstream of the river mouth having width of 100 Mtr., for which maintenance dredging is required in regular intervals. The fishery harbour is presently managed by the Odisha State Government Fisheries Department. The local fishing community has been facing difficulties as the river mouth has been silted up over the years and the fishing vessels face hindrance to navigate during approach/exit from the fishery harbour. The Mahanadi River Mouth was last dredged almost 20 years back.

Chairman, PPT during his interaction with the Press informed that there is a narrow window period between January and February to complete the work smoothly in tranquil conditions and PPT has completed this task successfully. Now 04 metre depth is maintained at critical areas of the River mouth even during the low tide. PPT has dredged the channel in two instances during 1998 & 2000 by engaging the Dredgers of M/s. DCI Ltd. Marine department of PPT will soon install temporary buoys in the channel and tender has already been floated for permanent ones. Under CSR, concrete road connectivity and lighting of the Fishery Harbour road  have already been done.

Shri S.K.Sahu, F.A & C.A.O, PPT, Captain A.C. Sahu, Harbour Master, PPT, Shri Sumant Kumar Biswal, President, Odisha Marine Fish Producers’ Association (OMFPA), Paradip & General Secretary, All Odisha Fish Producers’ Federation (AOFPF) and other members were present on the occasion.

The Ministry of Shipping has approved implementations of the above dredging work through the internal resources of the Port. It is hoped that the long lasting woes of local fishing community over a period of almost two decades will finally see the light of the day due to PPT initiative.

PPT SIGNS MoU TO ESTABLISH PORT HEALTH UNIT AT PARADIP PORT

A Port Health Unit headed by a Port Health Officer will come up in a 4-roomed building of PPT, located at Bhuyan Chhak, Madhuban.  An MoU in this regard was inked between PPT and Port Health Organisation (PHO), Govt. of India on dated 20.02.2020.

Shri Biswajit Mishra, Sr.AEM, PPT on behalf of PPT and Dr. S.K. Kar, Sr. Regional Director, RoH & FW, Govt. of India on behalf of Ministry of H&FW, Govt. of India  signed the MoU for the establishment of the PHU, in presence of  Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT, Dr. P. Panda, CMO, PPT Hospital and other HoDs of PPT. This partnership is a part of obligation of India under International Health Regulation 2005 (IHR-2005). 

Describing it to be a historic day, Shri Rinkesh Roy. Chairman, PPT said, “The PHU will be responsible for the health and sanitation in the ships coming to Paradip, food safety, health & hygiene in Paradip, apart from many more functions.  He has been chasing it up with the Ministry for the last four years, since all the other Major Ports have this kind of facility.”

Breaking the news about another achievement in terms of Cargo handling, Shri Roy said that, PPT today crossed 99 MMT mark in this fiscal and within next three days  it will cross the coveted 100 MMT mark and thus by making a hatrick in three consecutive fiscals.

Annual Flower Show organized by PPT

The 36th Annual Flower Show was organized by E&CM Division of Paradip Port Trust near Trade Center II on 07.02.2020. Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT inaugurated the Flower Show in the morning. Participants exhibited spectacular collections of flowers, vegetables and plants in 40 different categories such as flowers, classified ornamental plants in cut and pot arrangements, bonsai, vegetables. The myriad hues and scent of flowers at this flower show was mesmerizing. In a glittering function held in the evening at Officers' Club, Chairman, PPT, Shri Asish Kumar Bose, Deputy Chairman, PPT, Smt. Subhalaxmi Roy, President, Paradip Ladies' Club and other HODs awarded prizes to the winners in different categories.

PPT allocates land to NRL for setting up its Crude Oil Terminal in Paradip

In a significant development, 200 acres of land was allotted by Paradip Port Trust( PPT)  to Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) on long term lease to set up NRL’s Crude Oil terminal in Paradip. This facility will enable NRL to import Crude Oil at Paradip port to meet its requirement post Refinery Expansion from 3 to 9 MMTPA.

An MoM was signed to this effect  today in Bhubaneswar between Dy. Secretary PPT - Mr.  K Trirumoolar and Sr CGM (Projects) NRL - Mr. A P Chakraborty in presence of Chairman PPT - Mr. Rinkesh Roy, MD NRL - Mr S K Barua and senior officials from both the organizations. An amount of Rs. 20 Crore was handed over by NRL to PPT as initial deposit for the land.

NRL has embarked on a major Refinery Expansion project to treble its capacity from existing 3 MMTPA to 9 MMTPA at a project cost of more than Rs. 22,000 Crore, the highest ever investment in the North East of India. Formal approval from Government of India for this project was received in January 2019.

Shri Asish Kumar Bose assumed charge as Dy. Chairman, PPT

Shri Asish Kumar Bose assumed charge as Dy. Chairman, PPT today. Before this he was working as Traffic Manager, Mumbai Port Trust with effect from 7th July 2016. Shri Bose, prior to joining Mumbai Port, had held the post of Chief Manager (Traffic), JNPT from 18.12.2013 and before this, he was Traffic Manager, Mormugao Port Trust.

            Shri Bose is a post graduate in Science from Patna University. He joined the Port Sector as a Management Trainee at Kolkata Port Trust on 1st January 1986. Thereafter, he joined Haldia Dock Complex under Kolkata Port Trust as Traffic Officer w.e.f. 1st January 1987 and worked there in various capacities. He has wide experience in Port Railway operations, handling of bulk cargo and containers, etc.

Celebration at Jagruti

*School Friends foundation*, in line with its motto  - "Celebrate the Joy of Giving with a smile ", joined hands the Management team of "Jagruty" - a special education centre for mentally, physically & hearing impaired children,  in reaching out to children with special needs.

"Jagruty" a school for special children,  located in Nuabazar,  Paradip has been instrumental in providing great care and compassionate service to the differently abled children, since the last 22 years as a registered institution.

Presently, there are 35 students being looked after by "Jagruty ". Shri Subrata Biswas, Genetal Secretary on behalf of School Friends Foundation handed over 04 nos of mechanised wheel chairs to the administration team of Jagruty school in a formal ceremony at the school on 5/2/2020. The wheel chairs will not only ease but also greatly enhance the mobility of the differently abled students. 

Shri Biswas also interacted with the teaching staff and students to better understand their needs and to explore ways for further cooperation. 

The Management team of "Jagruty" school led by Smt Subhalaxmi Roy (President), Smt Nalini Mohanty (principal), Smt Preeti Parija, Smt Savita Panda, Munu Madam, Smt Smita Rath ,teachers and students, appreciated the support provided by School Friends Foundation and have decided to partner in future activities, benefiting the special children.

PPT gears up for any possible outbreak of Corona Virus

PPT Authority has been monitoring the deadly 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation and put various measures in place to prevent any possible outbreak. The World Health Organisation has already declared it to be Public Health Emergency of International concern. Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT, while addressing the media here said that GoI has already suspended e-visa for China. Being a cargo handling port, no passengers alight here. But, preventive measures are already in place to stop any possible outbreak. Cargo handling in the Port is going on smoothly and there is no restriction for cargo movement.

Thermal scanners have been installed at Gate No. 4 and an isolation ward has been made functional at PPT Hospital. As of today, 16 ships have berthed and 20 ships are in the anchorage. There is only one ship, in which, 2 crew members have visited China 15^th January, 2020, afterwards. In next few days, it will berth. Crew reports are being taken on daily basis from the ship and no symptoms have been reported, yet. On arrival at berth, CMO, PPT and a team will visit and scan the crew and after their green signal only, cargo operations will start in the ship. PPT Pilots going to these ships have been provided personal safety gears.

On arrival, Masters of all the vessels are to provide health declarations on corona virus infection, having symptoms of cold, sneezing and fever. Shore leaving is not permissible to the crew of vessels having last Port of Call to China, Macau and Hong Kong, after 15^th January, 2020 in line with Govt. of India Advisory. Daily update of health status of crew has been mandatory for all the vessels, until their stay in Paradip water. Relevant meeting and updates are being given by the PPT Authority for all its stakeholders.

Denizens of Paradip are being made aware about the symptoms and preventive measures, through messages displayed in big electronic boards in the township.

Paradip Port Invitational Golf Tournament held

Paradip Port Invitational Golf Tournament 2020, being held at Paradip Golf Course by Paradip Port Sports Council, concluded today. Women golfer Smt. Ambika Sutar of Paradip Golf Club emerged champion in the women category. In the Men category, Shri Pawan Singh Marwa of Gulmori Golf Club, Tata, became the champion. In handicap (13 - 18) and (19 - 24) categories, Shri Harihar Dash and Shri Deepak Sarangi of Paradip Golf Club have become the winners, respectively. In children putting, Master Rayan Richard became the champion.

Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT and Smt. Subhalaxmi Roy, President, Paradip Ladies' Club gave away the prizes.

Capt. Atulya Kumar Mohapatra, President, Paradip Golf Club and Shri Babul Sikdar, Working President, conducted the tournament smoothly.

PPT Celebrates Republic Day 2020

Republic Day was celebrated by Paradip Port Trust Authority with a great ardour. Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT unfurled the National Flag and took salute from 42 platoons consisting of CISF Jawans, students of Paradip College, different schools of Paradip Township and employees of PPT retiring  this year.

Addressing the gathering, he said that, in the last few years, Paradip Port Trust has chartered out a path of progress in all spheres of activities, unprecedented in its history. Traffic handled has grown from 71 MTPA in FY-2014-15 to approximately 110 MTPA in 2018-19. Even in the current year, despite operating with 02 lesser berths on account of mechanization projects, the Port is poised to achieve 115 MTPA. In fact, Paradip Port is the only Port in the country where rates have been static since the last 05 years. The Port in the last few years has become debt free as well as liability free.

The Port has commissioned the South Oil Jetty and the Multi-purpose Clean Cargo Berth in the last few years. In the coming fiscal, it will commission the New Import Coal Cargo Berth, The New Export Iorn Ore Berth an the mechanisation of EQ1, 2 & 3. Along-with this, the Port Management has introduced systemic improvements, which have lead to greater transparency. The Port has also undertaken substantial efforts in improving the environment. Commissioning of State of the Art Sewerage Treatment Plants, Modern effluent Plant in the Hospital, Concrete roads, beautification of township area, etc have given a great fillip to protect the environment. The Port has also undertaken a plantation drive of One Lakh trees through OFDC. The Port is installing a 10 MLD desalination plant to provide clean and safe drinking water to the Township.

As a part of its welfare activities, the Port has taken up major dredging works of opening of the Mahanadi River Mouth which will benefit over 50,000 fishermen families of Paradip area. Improvement in road approach to fishery harbor along-with lighting has also significantly improved the working conditions for fishermen.

The havoc unleashed by Cyclone Fani and Bulbul was repealed in the speediest manner. Announcing steps to make the PPT township disaster resilient, he inaugurated Generator Sets, which will provide 24x7 water and electricity to the citizens.  

Paradip Port Trust also contributed its might in generating employment apart from its usual realm of activities. Keeping that in view, PPT has been sponsoring 120 students in each year for 6 months training through CIPET Bhubaneswar with an approximate yearly expenditure of 72 Lakhs. A record number of 109 Diploma/ ITI students have been given training by the Port in the last year.

For movement of passenger traffic in a safe and clean environment, Port is in the process of constructing the Second Road Over Bridge and additional two lane road along-side National Highway from Atharbanki to Do-chhaki. Also PPT is exploring the feasibility of a separate road from Bhutmundai to Atharbanki for truck movement. These infrastructures will meet the requirement of all inhabitants of Port town and adjoining area for the next 20-30 years. 

Thereafter, Shri Roy awarded prizes to the winners of different competitions held for the occasion. He also felicitated the officers and employees of the E&M, Medical, Engineering Departments for their exemplary works. Eco-friendly cotton bags under the aegis of Paradip Sakshyrata Samiti were launched on the occasion by Chairman, PPT.

A Poet’s Meet was also organised at Officer’s Club, followed by an exhibition Women’s Volley Ball match in the afternoon at Gopabandhu Stadium. In the evening, Inter-School Dance competitions on Patriotic theme were held among school children at Jaydev Sadan.

The 42nd All India and 30th Children Athletics Meet concluded at Gopabandhu Stadium

The 42nd All India and 30th Children Athletics Meet jointly organised by Major Ports Sports Control Board and Paradip Port Sports Council concluded at Gopabandhu Stadium last evening. The host Paradip Port Trust has emerged as Overall Champion and Mumbai Port Trust has emerged as Overall Runners Up. Shri Dinesh Kumar Swain of PPT has become individual Champion in Under-14 Boys category and Miss Shruti Mohapatra  of PPT has emerged as individual champion in Under-16 Girls category. In the 4 days sports extravaganza, 250 men, women,  children and veteran athletes from 8 Major Ports were vying for the top honours in 125 events.

Shri S.D. Bhanot, DIG, Coast Guard attended the valedictory function as Chief Guest and gave away the prizes. He appealed to the athletes to continue their sportsman spirit and bring more laurels at the national and international levels. Shri Bishnu Charan Mishra, Addl. SP, Shri Molay Dasgupta, Chief Engineer, PPT, Shri Ashok Kumar Sahu, Sr. Dy. CAO, Capt. A.C. Sahu, Harbour Master, were the Guests of Honour. Shri Ranjan Rashmi Beura, Secretary, PPT Sports Council compered the event and Shri Rabi Das, Adviser, Sports extended the vote of thanks. The Meet came to an end with a splendid Fire Crackers Show.

Senior officials and employees from PPT and sports enthusiasts form the port township were present in large numbers.

42nd Major Port Athletics and 30th Children Meet kicks off in Paradip

A four-day 42nd All India Major Ports Athletics Meet and 30th Children Athletics meet jointly organised by the Major Ports Sports Control Board and the Paradip Port Sports Council kicked off here today at Gopabandhu Stadium.

PPT Chairman, Shri Rinkesh Roy was Chief Guest and Paradip Ladies Club President, Smt. Subhalaxmi Roy was Guest of Honour on the occasion.

Taking the salute in the march past by participants, Shri Roy said that, it is important to oganise such events, as these ensure a feeling of good camaraderie and brotherhood among Major Ports. Identity of an organisation comes from such type of arrangements, as they keep one's flag flying high. It encourages true sportsman spirit.

Secretary of organising committee, Shri B. Sikdar gave the welcome speech. Vice-chairman of organising committee Shri Deepak Rath and Chairman of organising committee, Shri S.K. Mishra also spoke on the occasion. PPT Sports Council Secretary Shri Ranjan Rashmi Beura and Advisor, Shri Rabi Das conducted the programme. On the occasion, students of Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir sang the opening chorus and artistes from Sagarika Kala Niketan and  Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir performed cultural programme. Around 250 participants from 8 Major Ports are participating in 125 events in the sports extravaganza.

Chief Secretary emphasizes on capacity enhancement of Paradip Port

Visiting Paradip Port today, Chief Secretary, Shri Asit Tripathy emphasized on role of Paradip Port in the economic development of the State. He said, “Investment to the tune of Rs. 7,000 Crore in the ongoing projects will lead to the economic development of the State.”

He visited the state-of-the-art Sewage Treatment Plant. The construction of the Plant is now at pre-commissioning stage. The Chief Secretary appreciated the commitment of the Port Authority and working culture among PPT employees under the leadership of Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT.

            Earlier, Chief Secretary was given a warm welcome on his arrival at the Wet Basin by Chairman, PPT. Thereafter, he visited the state-of-the-art Dry Fog System installed at the Mechanised Coal Handling Plant. Thereafter, he inaugurated planting of 1 lakh plant sapling and beautification of the township entry. In the evening, Shri Tripathy reviewed the activities of Paradip Port in a high level meeting, wherein Chairman, PPT Shri Roy outlined the issues and presented the updates for discussion.

The 17th Paradip Marathon 2020 was conducted by the Gopabandhu Kreeda Sansad of Paradip Port Trust on 3rd January 2020 on the occasion of Port Foundation Day

The 17^th Paradip Marathon 2020 was conducted by the Gopabandhu  Kreeda Sansad of Paradip Port Trust on 3^rd January 2020 on the occasion of Port Foundation Day. Shri Rinkesh Roy, IRTS, Chairman, Paradip Port Trust flagged off the same at the Hanuman Temple square. The Marathon covered a route of 14 Kms and concluded at Gopabandhu Stadium amid great encouragement by the inhabitants of Port Township and members of other organizations. A total no. of 678 participants comprising of 593 male & 85 female competitors participated in the Marathon.

Shri Sudhanu Nayak of Odisha Police won the first prize in the men category by completing the distance in 45 minutes 16.5 seconds, Shri Budra Bisi Nayak of Odisha Police got the second prize (45 minutes 20 seconds) and Shri Mukund Banra of Jharkhand got the third prize (45 minutes 28.9 seconds) in the men category.      

In the women category, Ms. Itishree Mohanta of Mayurbhanj  won the first prize (57 minutes 53.9 seconds), Ms. Sandhya Murmu of Mayurbhanj got the second prize (58 minutes 3.9 seconds) and Ms. Sakro Besra of Jharkhand got the third prize (58 minutes 52.3 seconds).

Attending as Chief Guest, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT, Guests of Honour, Smt. Subhalaxmi Roy, President Paradip Ladies Club & Shri S.D.Bhanot, DIG Coast Guard and Heads of the Deptt. of PPT gave away the cash prizes at the valedictory function held at Gopabandhu Stadium. International athlete Ms. Jauna Murmu was also felicitated on the occasion. She advised the athletes to toil hard to achieve success and solicited goodwill of denizens of Paradip for her success in upcoming Olympics. Chief Guest on the occasion, Shri Rinkesh Roy, lauded the members of Gopabandhu Kreeda Sansad for ensuring participants from almost all the districts of the State. He called for a focused approach for development of athletes from the nearby localities like Kujang, Rahama and Tirtol. He also urged everyone to participate in Fit India campaign.

The Officials and Technical members of the Paradip Port Sports Council with the assistance of the officials of Odisha Olympic Association conducted the Marathon smoothly. 

Revised Press Release on Paradip Marathon 2020

PARADIP MARATHON-2020 ON THE OCCASION OF PORT FOUNDATION DAY ON 3RD JANUARY-2020

The Paradip Marathon 2020 will be flagged off by the Chief Guest Shri Asit Tripathy, IAS, Chief Secretary, Odisha along with the guests of honour Sri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT & Smt. Subhalaxmi Roy, President, Paradip Ladies Club at 08.00 AM on 3rd January 2020 at the Hanuman Temple near Gate No.5. It will conclude at Gopabandhu Stadium passing through the designated route covering a distance of 14 Kms. The route will be identified, marked and the route chart will be provided to all the participants. The participants must be above 18 years & below 40 years of age as on 31.12.2019 and have to submit fitness certificate from a Govt. Medical officer or PPT medical officer. A panel of doctors from Port Trust will also be made available to check the fitness of participants, in case of necessity

            All men participants have to deposit an entry fee of Rs.50/- per head and Rs.30/- for women participants. The participants will be supplied with a set of Banion & Short and chest nos. in duplicate. All outstation participants will be provided with unfurnished accommodation and dinner i.e. on 02.01.2020. On the Marathon day, breakfast will be provided to all participants after the Marathon, at Gopabandhu Stadium.

            The application along with medical fitness certificate, undertaking, photocopy of voter ID/Aadhar Card & Age proof certificate and entry fee in cash will be received at the time of registration. Registration of participants will be made on 1st January 2020 & 2nd January 2020 at Gopabandhu Stadium as detailed below.

01-01-2020 - Local participants under Paradip Municipality area -10.00 AM to 04.00 PM. (Lunch Break from 1.30 PM to 2.30 PM)

01.01.2020 & 02.01.2020 - Outstation participants -10.00 AM to 04.00 PM. (Lunch Break from 1.30 PM to 2.30 PM).

 Registration would continue until registration of 600 men participants and 100 women participants or till 4 PM whichever is earlier.                                                     

N.B. No entry will be made in the registration as well as attendance after the scheduled time.

DISTRIBUTION OF STUDY KIT AT LOCAL SCHOOLS BY DCI

As part of CSR initiatives, Dredging Corporation of India Ltd. has distributed school bags among the local school children. Shri Rinkesh Roy, CMD, DCI and Smt. Subhalaxmi Roy, President, Paradip Ladies Club gave away 630 nos. of School Bags to the students of NAC Govt High School and NAC Girls High School, Paradip. Shri K Srinivas Rao, Project Manager of DCI Project Office, Paradip co-ordinated the programme.

Annual Fete

The much awaited fun filled “Annual Fete” under the aegis of Paradip Ladies Club was held on the evening of 11th December 2019 at Officers’ Club, PPT. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT inaugurated the event. Smt. Subhalaxmi Roy, President, Paradip Ladies Club, Smt. Sabita Panda, Working President and Smt. Kalpana Sahu, Secretary were also present on the occasion. Members of Ladies Club had put up various food stalls with variety of culinary delights to appease varying tastes. The proceeds from the sale of the coupons shall go towards philanthropic activities in the locality. All the stalls were very colourfully decorated. There was a very good footfall at the fete from PPT fraternity as well as denizens of Paradip.

International Day of Persons With Disabilities observed by PPT

Paradip Port Trust organised an event at the local Jagruty School on the occasion of International Day of Persons With Disabilities. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT saluted the spirit of determination of the school children and mentioned that PPT would take necessary steps within its ambit for the all-round development of the school. He also emphasized on on society to come forth for helping these schools, apart from govt. grants. Shri Roy, stressed on making office buildings of PPT more accessible for Dibyangas. Guest of Honour Smt. Subhalaxmi Roy, President, Paradip Ladies Club lauded the two alumnus of the school, who have got gainful employment after passing out. Thereafter, Chairman, PPT gave away prizes to winners of different competitions held among school children of Jagruty. He distributed gifts to the differently-abled employees of Paradip Port Trust as well as Children of Jagruty. Paradip Ladies Club led the donations followed by Port Users, HODs and other eminent persons from the locality  towards development of Jagruty. School faculties were also felicitated on the occasion.

Shri Prasant Kumar Moharana, Sr. Accounts officer, PPT as well as Secretary, Jagruty presented the Annual report of Jagruty. The differently abled children of Jagruty presented Cultural activities under the able guidance of Smt. Nalini Mohanty, Principal of Jagruty.  Shri NK Patnaik, Sr. Welfare Officer, PPT compered the programme and Shri Rama Chandra Pradhan, Jr. Welfare Officer, PPT extended vote of thanks.

World AIDS Day observed at PPT

Like every year, today, on the 1st of December, Paradip Port Trust organised World AIDS day. In the morning, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, Paradip Port Trust flagged off an awareness rally, in the presence of the Smt. Subhalaxmi Roy, President, Paradip Ladies Club & other  HoDs. Employees & officers of PPT, workers, trade unions, CISF, School Children, NGOs like IRDMS, CASD & Paradip Sakshyarata Samiti, workers & executives of Chennai Radha Engineering Works, and general public participated in the rally. 

A seminar was held after the culmination of the rally at Officers' Club.  Addressing the gathering, Dr. P. Panda, CMO, PPT highlighted the salient features of the Workplace Policy of Paradip Port Trust on HIV/AIDS, like non-discrimination & no-stigmatization of people leaving with HIV (PLHIV). Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT released awareness leaflets on non-discrimination policy of the Port Trust. Smt. Subhalaxmi Roy, President, Paradip Ladies Club distributed prizes to the winners of different competitions held among local school children on the HIV/AIDS. Chairman, PPT, in his speech, praised the role of the NGOs on prevention of the disease and highlighted the role of Pharmaceutical Firms of India in manufacturing and supply of the combination drugs (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy) worldwide for the treatment of AIDS. Guest of Honour Shri Bimal Kumar Jha, Secretary, PPT highlighted the significance of prevention of the spread of the disease on war footing basis. 

An appeal was made to all the stakeholders as well as the media to work towards achieving the 90–90–90 targets, envisioned by the UNAIDS by ending stigmatization of people living with HIV. The 90–90–90 targets envisions that, by 2020, 90% of people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of people who know their HIV positive status will be accessing treatment and 90% of people on treatment will have suppressed viral loads. In terms of all people living with HIV, reaching the 90–90–90 targets means that 81% of all people living with HIV are on treatment and 73% of all people living with HIV are virally suppressed. The combined efforts on prevention and early diagnosis of AIDS will be a milestone in ending AIDS epidemic by 2030. 

Er. Deepak Rath, Dy. CME , PPT gave the welcome speech and Shri Ramachandra Pradhan, Secretary, PSS offered the vote of thanks. Shri Ashok Mohapatra of PSS co-ordinated the programme.

PORT USERS’ MEET -2019 HELD AT PPT

The much awaited Port Users’ Meet 2019 was held,  this evening,  at the Officers’ Club of PPT. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri Rinkesh Roy , Chairman, PPT said that the entire efforts of Port users and the entire ecosystem put in place have delivered more than 100 MMT cargo handling for the last two years and this year, it will definitely cross 110 MMT mark. The Port has been focusing on Safety, Efficiency and Environment. This will definitely make it leading Port in India in coming year. With motivated team of employees and energised team of Port Users, it will rewrite success saga in years to come.  Like previous years, Shri Roy, presented awards to the best performing Exporters, Importers, Stevedores and Shipping/Steamer Agents for their exemplary performances. The list of 3 best performers in respect of different segments as follows:

 Exporters:

 Importers:

 Stevedores:

 Steamer Agents:

 Shri S.K. Mishra, T.M, PPT gave the Welcome speech and Shri A.K. Sahoo, DTM offered the vote of thanks. HoDs of PPT, Senior Officer and Port Users participated in a cultural evening, which followed the award distribution ceremony.

“Constitution Day” observed at PPT

Constitution Day or Samvidhan divas, is observed on 26^th November across the country to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on this day in 1949. It came into force on 26th January, 1950, marking the beginning of a new era in the history of Indian Republic. To mark the solemn occasion, Shri Bimal Kumar Jha, Secretary, Paradip Port Trust read out the Preamble to the Constitution in presence of HODs/Officers/Employees of PPT. The officials / employees present also took a pledge to uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution.

Press Release on Cancer Screening Camp

PARADIP LADIES CLUB has organised a screening-cum-awareness camp for Breast cancer and Cervical cancer  on 18.11.2019. The camp was successfully organised by active participation of President, Paradip Ladies Club, Smt.Subhalaxmi Roy , Working President Smt. Sabita Panda , Secretary Smt. Kalpana Sahu and active participation of joint secretary , treasurer along  with Sri Subrata Biswas , co-founder of SWASTH VOMI PRIVATE LIMITED. The healthy giene was the major attraction of the awareness programme.The healthy giene too travelled to the Saraswati sisu vidya Mandira, Port Trust High school , 'V' point KG School , NAC Govt High School and Jagruti  school to educate and create awareness among the children and teachers about balance diet, good healthy habits and why we should avoid junk food.

The Port Day 2019.

The Port Day was observed on the auspicious day of Kartik Purnima by the Paradip Port Trust Authorities on 12-11-2019 as being done every year. On this occasion, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, Paradip Port Trust attended the function as Chief Guest and unfurled the Paradip Port Flag at Wet Basin in the morning. He performed the traditional Kalas Puja & handed over the sacred Kalas to the Sadhavas who set sail on board a traditionally decorated boat. He also inspected the Port Marine crafts lined up in the Harbour and took salute. Thereafter Dy. Conservator, Paradip Port Capt. A.K. Mohapatra welcomed the guests in the meeting and explained the importance of Port Day celebration. 

Extending his greetings to the gathering on the auspicious occasion of Kartika Purnima, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, Paradip Port Trust outlined the tremendous rise of the Port in recent decades. As the Port operations began in 1966, the annual cargo handling capacity rose to 10 MMT in 1995, which further rose to 50 MMT in 2010 and in FY 2017-18, it crossed the coveted 100 MMT mark and is now aspiring to be the No. 1 Port in India. It is now following a transformational agenda with the advance technology adoption for its future growth. More than 12 Kms concrete road and 3 state-of-the-art Sewage Treatment Pants are on the anvil.  In the last few years, 90 MMT capacity addition has been done, out of which Rs. 4,500 Cr. is nearing completion. Desalination plant, Multi-modal logistics park, introduction of bus services for employees and workers in the Port prohibited area, construction of gated colony and insurance for workers have been recently done. As part of environmental measures, road sweeping machine, net barrier, one of its kind dry fog dust suppression system, roof top solar plant have been implemented. PPT will soon launch “Operation Green” under which 50,000 saplings will be planted in the locality. Shri Roy told that under community development programme, under the aegis of Paradip Sakshyarata Samity, e-learning through computer classes is being promoted in the locality. Sanitary pads for adolescent girls, zero plastic campaigns are underway. PPT Hospital has conducted free cataract operations of 250 BPL people. Under Smart Industrial Port City project, 2^nd Exit-cum-Fly over and another bridge, adjacent to Atharbanki Bridge are in the pipeline. For their dedicated service in their respective fields and their attachments to the Port, Shri Kulamani Barik, Conch Player, Shri Anand Chandra Sethi, garden supervisor, Smt. Sukanti Lenka, for her service to differently abled chidren, Smt. Binapani Das, safai karamchari at PPT Hospital, Shri Smrutikant Sharma, Dance Teacher were felicitated on the occasion.        Dr. P. Panda, who attended the function as Guest of Honour, threw light  on glorious maritime tradition of Odisha. Shri Saroj Das, CME, Paradip Port Trust extended vote of thanks.

Vigilance Awareness Week at PPT

The valedictory function of observance of the Weeklong Vigilance Awareness Week by Paradip Port Trust was held in the Officers' Club premises on 02.11.2019. Shri H.S. Rout, Dy. CVO, Paradip Port Trust while welcoming the guests informed about the programmes undertaken by Vigilance Dept. of PPT for observation of Vigilance Awareness Week at Paradip Port. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT told that Integrity should be maintained in our day today life and it should be part of our character. If Integrity and character building happen, then role of vigilance will diminish. We have to act honestly and sanity of organisation should be above everything. Whatever we do, we must do with a great deal of sincerity and passion. Right value system should be inculcated in younger generations and character building should be given topmost priority.

Visit of Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Shipping (I.C.) and Chemicals & Fertilisers, GoI to Paradip Port Trust

After assuming the charge as Minister of State for Shipping,(I/C),the Hon’ble Union Minister, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya made his first official visit to Paradip Port Trust as part of regular review on 16^th October 2019. He was extended very warm welcome by Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT and other HoDs at Jawahar Guest House. On 17^th morning, he was given Guard of Honour by the CISF, PPT contingent at Jawahar Guest House.  Thereafter, he visited the Port and saw the operations in the Dock area. Shri Mandaviya, also inaugurated the “New Kalyan Mandap” of PPT. He participated in plantation drive and distributed eco-friendly cotton bags to the public from nearby location. He also participated in a Cycle Rally, organised by PPT, to spread the message of “Swachhta hi Sewa” and “Fit India”. He said that he always goes to Parliament, cycling all the way from Official residence, when the House is in session. The Hon’ble Minister had an interactive session with Port-users & stake-holders, where he emphasized on augmenting the coastal shipping. He also reviewed progress with officials of IDCO, IOCL, on Paradip Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR). During the review of progress of PCPIR, he stressed on collaborative approach for faster development to bring overall development of the area.

The Hon’ble Minister reviewed the functioning of the Port and a detailed presentation was also made by Chairman, PPT, which was attended by all HoDs. Shri Mandaviya hopes a bright future for PPT.  

Chairman, PPT conducts Trial-run of Sewage Treatment Plants in Paradip

Keeping in mind the long felt need of the locality, Test Trail Runs of two Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) of total approximately 4.5 Million Litres daily capacity were started in Paradip Trust by Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT. These two STPs are stat-of-the-art facilities and have been constructed at a cost of approximately Rs. 22 Cr. The key highlights of these STPs are conversion of sewage water into manure and water that can be used for gardening and sprinkling activities. These much awaited STPs have been constructed with the technical assistance from M/s. Richardson & Cruddas (1972) Ltd., Mumbai.

This is the first phase of the integrated sanitation project which aims at improving overall sanitation through discharge of waste water after proper treatment. These two plants will become fully operational in December, 2019.

Swachhta Hi Sewa 2019 began at Paradip Port Trust

The PPT began the observance of “Swachhta Hi Sewa” from 11^th September to 2^nd October 2019, under the instructions of the Govt. of India. It started by taking “Swachhta Pledge” by all PPT officers and employees in the Lobby of  Administrative Building. The Chairman, PPT, Shri Rinkesh Roy, administered the pledge.

The PPT has already drawn up Action plan for the period of 11th September to 2nd October, on the occasion of  Swachhta  Hi Sewa viz., awareness drive among workers and staff of all Departments & Divisions of PPT and local community, cleaning activities in colonies and sites, organisation of swachhta awareness workshop in local schools, cleanliness drive in local slums, display of swachhta awareness hoardings and digital display at important locations in the township, with special emphasis on Plastic Waste Management.

Independence Day celebrations by PPT

Independence Day was celebrated by Paradip Port Trust Authority with a great passion. Shri Rinkesh Roy, Chairman, PPT unfurled the National Flag and took salute from 43 platoons consisting of CISF Jawans, students of Paradip College, Orissa Maritime Academy and different schools of Paradip Township. 

Addressing the gathering, he said that Paradip Port has become the largest dry bulk handling Port and the largest Coal and Coastal Cargo Handling Port of the country. Consecutively, for the last 2 years, it has clocked more than 100 MMT cargo handling. Port has also made impressive strides in the realm of infrastructure, capacity addition, efficiency & technology. The New Iron Ore Berth is expected to be Operational by September’ 2019 and the New Coal Berth to handle import coal cargo is expected to be completed by April 2021. LPG Terminal of 0.75 MMTPA capacity at South Oil Jetty is being developed by IOCL with an estimated cost of Rs. 690 Crores. A State-of-the-Art Effluent Treatment Plant was commissioned at a cost of Rs.32 lakhs on 21st July, 2019 within the PPT Hospital premises for disposal of liquid waste. This adds another feather to the cap of PPT for its commitment towards prevention of pollution and biohazard in and around Paradip. 2 New Sewerage Treatment Plants will be commissioned in this fiscal, with a capacity of approximate 4.5 MLD and