Indus Valley Times

By Pravakar Sahoo

Paradip, Jan.10:  Paradip Port, as part of the flagship program of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, celebrated 9 years of the “Sagarmala”by organizing an insightful workshop titled “Navigating the Future-Mega Ports for Bulk Cargo Handling” at Bhubaneswar on 10th January 2024. Two panel discussions with noted industry stalwarts from the port ecosystemwere conducted where esteemed panellists engaged in thoughtful conversations to chalk out strategies for evolution of Bulk mega ports under the ambit of the Sagarmala initiative.

Here is a brief summary of the key highlights:

Opening Remarks by Shri Nilabhra Dasgupta, IRS, Deputy Chairman, Paradip Port: Shri Dasgupta provided an overview of the Indian port sector, emphasizing the achievements of the Sagarmala initiative over the past nine years. He also presented a snapshot of the current state of Paradip Port and outlined the future vision for 2047 as envisioned by the Paradip Port Authority.

 Insights from Chief Guest, Shri Manoj Sharma, IRSE, GM, ECoRly:

Shri Manoj Sharma, the Chief Guest, shared valuable insights into the ongoing railway projects in the East Coast Railway. He reaffirmed Indian Railways’ active support for one of the significant pillarsSagarmala, ie. focusing on enhancing port connectivity.

Insights by Shri Rinkesh Roy, IRTS, Ex-Chairman Paradip Port

Shri Rinkesh Roy congratulated Paradip Port for achieving the status of the No.1 Major Port of India. He provided an insightful perspective on how Paradip is fast evolving as the first Mega Port of India, emphasizing the metrics of “MEGA” – Market, Environment, Giantness, and Accessibility.

Brief on Sagarmala Programme by Shri Vinay Prajapati, Director, MoPSW:

Shri Vinay Prajapati, Director at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, delved into the achievements of the Sagarmala Programme across its five pillars. His presentation shed light on the program’s contributions to holistic maritime growth and development.

Insights by Shri Madhab Chandra Mishra, IRS, Commissioner, Customs:

Shri Madhab Chandra Mishra expressed the Custom department’s commitment to facilitating faster cargo movement, contributing to the evolution of a Mega Port like Paradip.

Shri G. Edison, Traffic Manager, Paradip Port offered vote of thanks to the dignitaries and the learned diaspora from the port industry to conclude the one day workshop.

The workshop provided a comprehensive overview of the transformative journey of Paradip Port under the ambit of the Sagarmala initiative. The collaborative efforts between the various stakeholders showcased the deep commitment towards driving progress in maritime infrastructure, connectivity, efficiency and also towards augmenting Port Led Industrialisation and coastal community development. The event saw widespread participation and  concluded with a promising outlook for the future, aligning with the overarching vision of the ambitious Sagarmala initiatives.