Essar, IFFCO to get captive berths at port planned on Mahanadi

BHUBANESHWAR: Essar and fertliser cooperative IFFCO will get captive berths at riverine port planned on Mahanadi river. In a review meeting held today, Odisha Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra called for expediting the project, and keeping Essar in the loop since land identified for the steelmaker runs contiguous to Mahanadi River bank.

Last month the state had kicked off its ambitious inland waterway project, that would link Kalinganagar’s industries including Tata Steel to the Paradip and Dhamra ports hopefully in the next three years.

The port to cover an area of 750 acres and estimated to cost Rs 1919 crore is being planned to handle cargo around 22 mtpa in the first phase and 55 mtpa in the second phase. The Empowered Committee on Infrastructure has already approved the project, and consultants (WAPCOS for technical and Earnst & Young for financial) have been hired. The 200 meter land already acquired by IDCO, it was decided would be kept reserved captive loading unloading berths of Essar and IFFCO.