Paradip to be developed into a smart port: Nitin Gadkari

July 22, 2017: Union minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari has announced that Paradip would be developed into a smart port and smart city at an investment of Rs 40,000 crore.

"The Centre is committed to speedy development of Odisha. While road network is being expanded in the state, Paradip will be made a smart port and smart city at a cost of Rs 40,000 crore," Gadkari said while laying the foundation stone of the long-awaited second bridge on Brahmani river.

The new bridge over Brahmani river, being constructed at a cost of around Rs 550 crore, is expected to be completed in two years. It would be part of a six-lane national highway from Rajamunda to Biramitrapur.

Meanwhile, talking about the ministry's plan for Paradip, Gadkari said that initially, Rs 2,700 crore would be provided for the ambitious project and an additional amount of Rs 2,000 crore would be spent to increase the depth of Paradip port to enable it to handle a variety of vessels and cargo.

Gadkari also informed that the ministry plans to construct a railway line between Paradip and the coal town of Talcher at an investment of Rs 9,000 crore. The coal production capacity of Talcher coal belt would also be raised upto 300 million tonnes, he said.

Apart from these, around Rs one lakh crore is being invested in Paradip region for different petroleum and petro-chemical projects, the Union Minister said.

Also about Rs 1.5 lakh crore is expected to be invested for expansion of highways and roads in the state in the near future, the minister added.