Odisha govt approves for financial bidding to set up Mahanadi riverine port

Bhubaneswar: The High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) chaired by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday approved the proposal to initiate the financial bidding process for a riverine port on river Mahanadi near Akhadasali village under Mahakalapada block in Kendrapada district on PPP mode.

Four major port developing agencies–Hindustan Ports Private Limited, Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, Essar Ports and Navayuga Engineering Company Limited would participate in the financial bidding process to develop the port.

It was decided that all the four developers who had submitted their application would get to participate in the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage for Mahanadi riverine port.

“It has been decided in the meeting to issue RFP to all four applicants to participate in RFP stage and to give in-principle approval to the project as well as to the Draft RFP, Draft Concession Agreement, Land Lease Agreement,” said a statement from Chief Minister’s Office.

The Mahanadi riverine port will be set up in two phases. In the first phase, two berths shall be established for transportation of 18.43 million tonne cargo per annum for which the expenditure estimated to the tune of Rs.2110 crores.

The requirement of land for 1st phase development of the port has been estimated to 175 Hectares. The riverine port will be connected to National Highway 5-A (now NH-53) and Haridaspur-Paradip Railway line for transportation of cargo including mineral, raw fertilizer, alumina, raw crude oil, finished crude oil, steel and steel products.

The capacity of transportation of cargo will increase from 18.43 mtpa to 45.88 mtpa and an additional 125 hectares of land will be required.