“Sagar Shreshtha Samman” Awards: PPA bags a hat-trick
By Pravakar Sahoo
Paradip,May 14: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.
