Powering the East Coast logistics: OSL’s four-decade journey

At the helm, Mahimananda Mishra, Founder of OSL Group, continues to guide the company through a transformative phase, diversifying into inland waterways, ship repair, tank farms, container freight stations, and multimodal logistics parks. With India’s trade volumes expanding and government initiatives like Sagarmala and Maritime India Vision 2047 opening new opportunities, OSL is positioning itself as more than just a service provider–it is becoming a full-spectrum logistics partner.

A pan-East Coast footprint

OSL began with stevedoring and gradually built an expansive service portfolio covering cargo handling, warehousing, customs clearance, freight forwarding, vessel chartering, bunkering, intra-port transportation, and private freight terminals. Today, its network spans ports from Kolkata to Tuticorin, making it one of the few truly panEast Coast operators. In FY2025, OSL handled 105 million metric tonnes of cargo, cementing its place among the country’s top private logistics operators by volume. Its clientele includes leading steel plants, fertilizer manufacturers, coal traders, and pellet producers, many of whom rely on OSL for integrated services that cover the entire supply chain–from plant to port and vice versa. “Our focus has always been on offering seamless, end-to-end solutions that save time, reduce costs, and give clients confidence,” Mishra notes. “By constantly augmenting infrastructure at key ports and investing in new facilities, we ensure our service offering remains relevant and competitive.”

Strategic forays into port infrastructure

Unlike several private logistics players, OSL has historically been cautious about full-fledged port ownership. Instead, it has pursued selective infrastructure projects that complement its service offerings. OSL was one of the lead promoters of Gopalpur Port, helping steer its expansion before strategically reducing its stake. The company today operates the West Quay-6 berth at Visakhapatnam Port on a Design-Build-FinanceOperate-Transfer (DBFOT) basis, while actively evaluating new opportunities in captive and commercial terminals. Perhaps the most ambitious of its infrastructure bets is the planned integrated facility near Paradip for ship recycling, building, and repair. With an investment of about ₹3,000 crore, this phased project will start with a 40-acre ship repair yard capable of servicing both commercial and defence vessels. This initiative aligns with India’s growing need for indigenous ship repair facilities and dovetails with the government’s push for self-reliance in defence and maritime infrastructure.

Inland Waterways: Reviving a forgotten route

If OSL’s port initiatives look to the future, its revival of the Mahanadi Waterway reconnects with the past. Riverine trade once thrived in Odisha but had been dormant for nearly a century. OSL, with strong government support, brought this route back to life. In May 2022, the company inaugurated a dedicated riverine jetty for IFFCO, enabling gypsum transportation via Inland Water Transport (IWT). Since then, OSL has also moved over-dimensional cargo (ODC) along the Mahanadi, proving its ability to handle complex, non-standard cargo in challenging conditions. The journey was not without obstacles. Depth issues at several patches, inadequate navigation aids, and dredging requirements remain bottlenecks. “With systematic dredging and improved navigation infrastructure, the Mahanadi can become a reliable, cost-effective, and green alternative to road and rail,” Mishra asserts. This experiment offers a glimpse of how inland waterways can ease congestion on India’s stretched highways and railway corridors.

Diversification as a growth engine

OSL’s diversification strategy is driven by the recognition that logistics in India is no longer about handling cargo alone. Customers demand integrated solutions, value-added services, and reliable infrastructure. To meet this demand, OSL has announced several projects:

• Tank Farm at Paradip for POL (petroleum, oil, lubricants) storage and handling. Multimodal Logistics Park (MMLP) and Mini SEZ at Chandikhol, envisioned as an integrated hub for warehousing, manufacturing, and distribution.

• Five Private Freight Terminals (PFTs) across Odisha and neighbouring states to improve last-mile evacuation and hinterland connectivity.

• Private Container Freight Station (CFS) at Paradip, a ₹50 crore facility capable of handling 50,000–60,000 TEUs annually in its first phase, scheduled for commissioning in Q3 2025.

The Paradip CFS, in particular, addresses a longstanding gap in Odisha’s container infrastructure. Currently, much of the state’s outbound container cargo is routed through Vizag or Haldia, adding costs and inefficiencies. OSL estimates its CFS could reduce logistics costs by 30–40 per cent, benefiting industries such as steel, fertilizers, textiles, engineering goods, and perishables.