The Samikhsya Bureau
BHUBANESWAR: Chairing the first meeting the of State Sagarmala Committee, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has said that in addition to our strategic advantage of long coastline, the Sagarmala project can further enable Odisha to emerge as a major logistics destination.
The CM said that the Port-led development through industrialisation and connectivity is a major focus of Sagarmala projects. We will also be prioritising the Coastal community development as an integrated part of this initiative, he added.
He further said that Odisha has the advantage of being strategically located with a long coastline. We have a rich cultural heritage of maritime trade. We can become India’s gateway to South East Asian countries, he added.
Apart from the Paradip Port, our government has been facilitating the development of various ports all along Odisha’s coastline, he further added.
The CM further said that the State Maritime Board is expected to be fully functional in the coming months. Hopefully, the Board will act as a catalyst for overall development of the maritime sector in the State.
He asked for close coordination with various departments and resolving the issues for timely completion of projects under Sagarmala. He urged all the departments concerned to prioritise these projects.
The Sagarmala Project has a vision for port led development across the coast of India. It aims at Port modernization, Port connectivity, Port led industrialization and Coastal community development. The projects under this programme will get 50 percent funding from the Government of India.
Among others, Commerce & Transport Minister Shri Padmanav Behera, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Principal Secretary of Commrce & Transport Madhusudan Padhi were present.
