Sonowal Inaugurates ₹427.80 Crore Projects at Paradip Port

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated seven infrastructure projects worth ₹427.80 crore at Paradip Port Authority in Paradip, Odisha, on 21 August 2026. The projects included capital dredging, a bridge, a vessel traffic management system, and mechanisation agreements linked to port capacity and cargo handling.

Paradip Port and Maritime Infrastructure

Paradip Port is one of India’s major ports on the eastern coast and functions under the Paradip Port Authority. The port handles bulk cargo, container traffic, and industrial shipments connected to mineral, energy, and fertiliser movement.

Capital Dredging and Deep-Draft Capacity

The ₹352 crore capital dredging project was inaugurated to create an 18.5-metre deep-draft facility. This depth allows the port to receive fully laden Capesize vessels, which are large bulk carriers used in international maritime trade.

Bridge, Traffic Management, and Mechanisation

The ₹24.89 crore Atharbanki Second New Bridge is a 500-metre, three-lane bridge built for traffic movement involving about 3,000 transport trucks daily. An Advanced Vessel Traffic Management and Information System was also inaugurated in collaboration with IIT Madras’ National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts.

Three mechanisation concession agreements worth ₹1,580.36 crore were signed to reduce vessel turnaround time at the port. The agreements covered a 5 MTPA South Quay project, an 8 MTPA Multipurpose Berth project, and a 10 MTPA Captive CQ-III project.

Important Facts for Exams

• Paradip Port is located in Odisha on India’s eastern coast and is administered by the Paradip Port Authority.
• Capesize vessels are large bulk carriers that usually require deep-draft ports for full loading.
• MTPA stands for million tonnes per annum and is used to measure cargo-handling capacity.
• IIT Madras has a National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts that works on maritime technology.

Environmental and Capacity Milestones

Paradip Port marked its one-millionth tree plantation as part of environmental initiatives linked to the port’s development after the 1999 Super Cyclone. The newly inaugurated projects helped the port reach an annual cargo capacity milestone of 150 million metric tonnes.