By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 9, 2015 : The Sagarmala scheme as envisioned by prime minister, Narendra Modi will boost development of ports and port based maritime and manufacturing zones, in Odisha.
The scheme is to be launched by the state government in collaboration with the Centre.

Inaugurating a national level meeting, chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati said here that port is an integral part of the logistic chain for industrial and economic development in the State. All the major and minor ports, railways, inland waterways, mining and industrial establishments must operate in synergy to keep up higher economic growth. Pati envisioned an industrial corridor from Paradip to Kalinganagar.

Addressing the meet, additional secretary, union ministry of shipping Dr Alok Srivastava said that the main objectives of Sagaramala Programme are to improve operational efficiency of the ports, putting in place multi-modal logistic solutions for cost effective movement of cargo, harvesting inland and costal shipping potentials, developing port based industrial activities and improving living standards of the people in costal zones.

India has 7,500 km coastline, 12 major ports and 200 non-major ports. At present, 95 per cent of India’s trade by volume and 70 per cent of trade by value are being carried through maritime transport in which Odisha has a significant share. The programmes envisage developing 3 to 4 mega ports in the State with one world class transshipment port. Development of maritime and manufacturing clusters around the ports in Odisha is also envisioned in it.