Odisha charts a bold course to become India’s gateway to the east

Odisha is emerging as one of India’s most vibrant maritime states. How would you describe the overall vision and roadmap for port-led industrialisation being pursued by the Government of Odisha? How do the state’s port policies and industrial policies align to create a unified maritime industrial ecosystem?

Odisha is charting a bold maritime and industrial transformation along its 575-kilometre coastline, with a vision to emerge as the Gateway to the East and ASEAN region. Guided by the Odisha Port Policy 2022, the State is developing new ports and terminals through innovative PPP and BOOST models, while aligning its Industrial, Logistics, and Renewable Energy Policies to promote seamless port-based growth. The establishment of the Odisha Maritime Board has created a single-window mechanism for approvals and investor facilitation.

The State aims to expand its port-handling capacity from 400 MTPA at present to 500 MTPA by 2047, as it advances the development of 14 more ports to complement Paradip, Dhamra, and Gopalpur. Recently, the State has also signed MoU’s worth ₹50,000 crore in maritime sector: a reflection of the growing confidence of global investors.

new ports such as Subarnarekha, Astarang, and Bahuda are under various stages of development, while existing ports are expanding capacities. With this rapid growth, how is the state planning to generate sufficient cargo volumes to sustain these ports?

Odisha’s cargo-generation strategy rests on strong industrial linkages and multimodal connectivity. Existing hubs such as Paradip, Dhamra, and Gopalpur are being expanded, while new greenfield locations like Subarnarekha, Astarang, and Bahuda are under development to capture rising trade volumes. Paradip Port, already India’s largest on the east coast, is scaling up from 150 MTPA to 325 MTPA, with a dedicated green-hydrogen and ammonia terminal under implementation. Dhamra Port’s LNG terminal, operating at 6.5 MMTPA and expandable to 10 MMTPA, will support gas-based industries and diversify cargo. Hinterland connectivity through the Coastal Highway, Haridaspur–Paradip Rail Line, and Sagarmala-linked logistics corridors will ensure that every port is backed by a steady flow of industrial cargo and coastal shipping traffic.

Further, the expanding industrial ecosystem in the state, spreading across various sectors is expected to create large-scale cargo which may be exported from the existing and upcoming ports.

Could you highlight the kind of industries being promoted near these ports — both in terms of type (steel, petrochemical, green energy, etc.) and scale?

Each coastal region of Odisha is being developed as a specialised industrial hub.
Paradip PCPIR, spread over 284 sq km and anchored by a 15 MMTPA IOCL refinery and a proposed 3–4 MMTPA naphtha cracker, is emerging as eastern India’s leading petrochemical complex, complemented by a plastics park and a CIPET R&D centre. Near Dhamra, a 500-acre Technical Textiles Park in Bhadrak, anchored by IOCL’s 300 KTPA polyester plant, is promoting apparel and synthetic-fibre industries. At Gopalpur, the Tata SEZ and Industrial Park (3,000 acres) offer plug-and-play infrastructure for multi-cargo manufacturing, chemicals and green-energy projects.

Meanwhile, Subarnarekha, Astarang, and Bahuda including the proposed ₹21,500 crore Bahuda Port are planned as integrated logistics and processing hubs catering to energy, agro-marine, and containerised trade.

What is the estimated cargo contribution from these upcoming industries, and how do they fit into Odisha’s overall EXIM growth targets?

Odisha’s new industrial projects are expected to add significantly to the State’s cargo movement and export growth over the next decade. The Paradip PCPIR will drive large volumes of petrochemicals and downstream plastics, while the Dhamra region will continue to handle major bulk commodities such as coal, limestone, and iron ore. The Gopalpur–Tata SEZ cluster is set to add multi-cargo capacity through green-hydrogen and ammonia exports. The proposed Bahuda Satellite Port in Ganjam district will help achieve Odisha’s target of handling one-third of the country’s total cargo.

Together, these port-linked industries will form a strong and steady cargo base, helping Odisha raise its total port-handling capacity to 500 million tonnes by 2047. With the development of 14 non-major ports, improved highway and rail connectivity, and diversification into containers and green fuels, the State is building a balanced export ecosystem that aligns with its long-term EXIM growth targets and strengthens its position as the maritime gateway of eastern India.

How are coastal industrial corridors such as the Dhamra–Paradeep–Gopalpur belt evolving as logistics and manufacturing clusters? How is the state leveraging greenfield industrial parks and private sector partnerships to anchor long-term port cargo pipelines?

The Dhamra–Paradip–Gopalpur coastal belt has evolved into the maritime growth spine of Odisha, seamlessly linking its industrial heartland with the Bay of Bengal through world-class multimodal infrastructure. The State is developing this stretch as a coastal logistics and manufacturing corridor, integrating highways, railways, ports, and industrial parks into one connected ecosystem. Key infrastructure initiatives such as the NH-16 (part of the East Coast Economic Corridor), the Biju Economic Corridor, and the upcoming Coastal Highway are creating uninterrupted connectivity from the mineral belts of Angul, Kalinganagar, and Jharsuguda to the ports at Paradip, Dhamra, and Gopalpur.

To anchor long-term cargo pipelines, Odisha is strategically leveraging greenfield industrial parks and private-sector partnerships. The Paradip PCPIR, Bhadrak Technical Textiles Park, and the Tata SEZ at Gopalpur are being developed as integrated port-linked estates with assured utilities, logistics infrastructure, and common warehousing. These industrial parks have been designed not just to attract manufacturing investment but also to generate steady cargo for nearby ports creating an in-built cycle of production, movement, and export.

Public–private partnerships play a central role in this model. Private developers like Tata Steel SEZ, Adani Ports, and Dhamra Port Company Ltd. are collaborating to co-create bulk terminals, container yards, and dedicated rail connectivity, ensuring that industrial output seamlessly transitions into maritime trade. The State is also working with the National Sagarmala Development Company to promote coastal shipping, Ro-Ro facilities, and multimodal logistics parks that strengthen last-mile connectivity.

Through this blend of infrastructure, policy alignment, and strategic collaboration, Odisha is building a self-sustaining coastal corridor where ports, industries, and logistics systems are interlinked to drive exports, attract long-term investments, and establish the State as a leading maritime-industrial hub of India’s east coast.

Odisha has tremendous renewable potential. How is the state integrating green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol projects into its industrial and maritime development strategy?

Odisha is among India’s frontrunners in integrating green energy into port-led industrialisation. The State has approved 16 green-hydrogen and ammonia projects worth over ₹2 lakh crore, with another ₹1 lakh crore in the pipeline. Most are concentrated around Paradip and Gopalpur Ports, ensuring direct access for exports and domestic offtake. Together, these investments are expected to create over 36,000 jobs and serve key sectors such as steel, fertilisers, and chemicals. The flagship ACME–IHI Gopalpur project, one of India’s largest green-ammonia facilities, exemplifies this approach. Odisha’s “Green Molecule Gateway” vision aims to position the State as a major exporter of hydrogen-based fuels to Southeast Asia while advancing India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.

The proposed Bahuda Port and Mega Shipbuilding Cluster have generated considerable interest. Could you share the roadmap and future prospects of this project?

Odisha’s maritime expansion is entering a defining phase with the development of the Bahuda Port in Ganjam and the Mega Shipbuilding and Repair Cluster near the Mahanadi River mouth. These two projects together represent the State’s ambition to broaden its maritime base beyond cargo handling into marine manufacturing, ship repair, and coastal logistics.

Bahuda Port, with an investment of around ₹21,500 crore, is envisioned as a modern greenfield gateway for the southern coast. It will cater to container and energy logistics, boost industrial linkages for southern Odisha, and decongest existing ports. Land identification and master planning are already under progress, with private participation being encouraged under the Port Policy 2022.

The shipbuilding and repair cluster, being developed jointly by the Paradip Port Authority and the Odisha Maritime Board at an estimated ₹24,700 crore, will be one of the first integrated marine manufacturing zones on the east coast. The project roadmap includes developing core shipbuilding and repair facilities, supporting fabrication units, and training infrastructure for a skilled maritime workforce.

Over the next few years, both projects are expected to create a strong ecosystem of employment, ancillary industries, and global partnerships, placing Odisha firmly on the map as India’s emerging hub for shipbuilding and maritime innovation.

Many global shipbuilders are currently evaluating India’s west coast for setting up facilities. What is Odisha doing to attract them to the east coast especially given its strategic proximity to Southeast Asia?

Odisha is positioning itself as India’s next shipbuilding and marine-engineering hub on the east coast. The State’s deep natural harbours, proximity to ASEAN trade routes, and robust metal ecosystem provide unmatched strategic advantages. Recently, a landmark MoU between the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) and the Odisha Maritime Board (OMB) was signed to jointly develop a world-class shipbuilding and repair cluster at the Mahanadi River mouth, with an envisaged investment of ₹24,700 crore. The project will include dry-docking, fabrication, and marine-component manufacturing facilities, serving both defence and commercial vessels.

Under the Port Policy 2022, Odisha offers attractive PPP frameworks, fiscal incentives, and single-window clearances for shipbuilding, repair, and cruise-terminal projects.

The State is also advancing plans for cruise terminals and blue-economy initiatives that complement its industrial push ensuring that maritime growth brings holistic benefits through employment, tourism, and coastal community development.

With its strategic location, deep-draft ports, and proactive governance, Odisha is now ready to anchor the east coast’s emergence as India’s new hub for shipbuilding, repair, and marine innovation.

Odisha has a long and scenic coastline. What are the plans to promote cruise tourism, marinas, and coastal leisure infrastructure along this coast?

Cruise and coastal leisure are now integral to Odisha’s maritime vision. The State, in partnership with Paradip Port Authority, has announced a cruise terminal for the Puri–Paradip circuit, with routes proposed to Digha, Visakhapatnam and the Andaman Islands operated by private cruise lines on a PPP model. Recent announcements also include a cruise terminal at Paradip on the Mangala river and a budgetary allocation to unlock tourism infrastructure; a new airport at Paradip is planned to complement the leisure and MICE opportunity.

Beyond terminals, the State is mapping marina sites and coastal leisure zones alongside blue-economy and heritage circuits (Bali Jatra to eco-tourism), while completed projects under Swadesh Darshan (Gopalpur–Barkul–Satapada–Tampara) create a foundation for private investments in waterfront hospitality, sailing clubs and events. These initiatives, embedded in the Port Policy 2022 and coordinated by the Maritime Board, aim to pair industrial port growth with year-round coastal tourism, expanding incomes and jobs across communities along Odisha’s 485-km shoreline.