___________

Update:Tathya has a recent report on who is pursuing which port. Following is a table based on that info.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.

… the CVR Navayuga Group on Monday inked an MoU sign with the State Government to develop a Greenfield port at Astaranga in Puri at a investment of Rs 6,000 crore. Astaranga is one of the 13 sites identified by the State Government for development of minor ports in the State.

… Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said Navayuga Engineering had plans to invest Rs 1,500 crore in Phase 1 at Astaranga with a capacity of to move 25 million tones of cargo. "With the completion of the Phase -II and Phase-III, the total investment made at the location will be Rs 6,000 crore with a capacity of 60 million tonne," he said, adding that the project was estimated to yield revenue of Rs 20 crore per annum for Government during Phase-1 and Rs 1,000 crore per annum by the completion of Phase -III.

The project in its entirety shall be implemented over a period of eight years with Phase-1 being completed within 48 months. 10, 000 jobs will be created. The scope of the project also includes construction of a 50-km rail link to connect Astaranga with mainline at Khurda via Sakhigopal.

A report in Hindu has some more details. Following are excerpts.

The Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Company has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Orissa for the development of a modern deep water, all-weather, alongside-berthing, mechanised port at the Astaranga area located in Puri district, according to a company release. 

The MoU was entered on a build, own, operate, share and transfer (BOOST) basis. …

The first phase was planned to be made operational in four years. As per the concession agreement, all investment for the project should be arranged by the developer; the revenue share to the Government was fixed at five per cent for the first five years, eight per cent for sixth to 10th year, 10 per cent for 11th to 15th year and 12 per cent for the remaining period of 15 years.

The MoU had a provision of 30 years concession period and could be extended by an additional 20 years. The detailed concession agreement is to be signed within six months.

Following is from a report in Steelguru.com.

BS reported that Orissa will set up a captive port at Chudamani in Bhadrakh district and an all weather multi user port at Ashtaranga in Puri district. It will sign MoUs with Essel Mining and Industries and Navyug Engineering, respectively for them.

Hyderabad based Navyug plans to invest INR 1,900 crore in the first phase for setting up the port at the mouth of the Devi river. While INR 1,500 crore will be invested for the port, INR 400 crore will be spent on railway connectivity. It will have a cargo handling capacity of 20 million tonnes per annum in the first phase.

Essel Mining will invest INR 1,500 crore to develop a port under a consortium of Aditya Birla Group companies for movement of cement, iron ore, thermal coal, limestone, gypsum, clinker, copper.

According to sources, it will have a cargo handling capacity of 2 million tonnes initially, to be enhanced to 10 million tonnes over a period of time.

A senior official of the state commerce & transport department said that "The chief minister has approved the proposal to sign MoUs with these two companies."

Following is from http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=36827.

RAJYA SABHA

There is a proposal for setting up two international size shipyards, one on the East Coast and another on the West Coast of India. 

An international size shipyard may build and repair ships upto the size of Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) which has a carrying capacity of 300,000 Tonnes (DWT).  The shipyard may be located in a place which has 10-12 metres water depth at the jetty.  The international size shipyard may have at least two and preferably three big dry docks (2 for building and 1 for repair), a quayside length of at least 2.5 kms and various support facilities for building and assembly of ships.   

Maritime States were requested by the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways to identify suitable location for setting up of international size shipyards, one each on the East Coast and West Coast of India respectively.  In response, the following locations have been suggested by the Maritime States: 
 

   Upon receipt of the proposals from the State Governments, further information/clarifications have been sought by the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways from the respective State Governments.   

The nodal agencies viz. Ennore Port Limited and Mumbai Port Trust have been authorized to appoint Consultants with clear terms of reference who inter alia, would identify 3 or 4 alternative sites each for setting up of shipyard on West Coast and East Coast of India respectively and also suggest optimal locations with detailed justification.  The process for appointment of Consultants has been initiated by the nodal agencies. 

 The following basic requirements are preferable for setting up of an international size shipyard: 

(i) The minimum land requirement of 1000-1500 acres and waterfront of about 2.5 Kms in length; 

(ii) Water draft of 10 to 12 metres;

(iii) The site location for the proposed shipyards to have good rail and road connectivity;

(iv) Contiguity to a Major Port situated within the State. 

This information was given  by the Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri T.R. Baalu in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Following is an excerpt from a report in Times of India.

“We have received a proposal from Navayuga group for a 12 MTPA capacity unit,” state secretary, steel and mines, U P Singh told TOI on Monday, confirming the development. Official sources disclosed that the Navayuga group is interested to set up a port-based steel facility, preferably at Astaranga in Puri district.

Chairman of Navayuga Engineering Company Limited ((NECL) C V Rao had earlier this year made a presentation before chief minister Naveen Patnaik about the groups plans to develop a port at Astaranga on a build-own-operate-share-transfer (BOOST) basis with an investment of Rs 6000 crore. But the company’s sudden keenness to make a foray into the booming steel sector, that too in a big way, has come as a surprise to many.

The group’s proposal for developing a port is in the final stages of getting approval, but the state government is yet to examine its application for setting up a mega steel plant, pointed out an official.

The land and water requirements as well as raw material linkage have to be studied. The proposal will be placed before the Single Window Clearance Authority headed by the chief secretary before a decision is taken, the official added.

The company had earlier requested the state government for 5000 acres of land for its port complex and other projects, including a 1320 (2 x 660) mega watt captive power plant, fly ash brick unit and desalinization facility.

The group had also suggested the government for construction of a 50-km railway link between Khurda Road to Astaranga via Sakhigopal at an investment of Rs 400 crore through the public-private-partnership mode, sources said.

Dharitri has a nice overview (page1, page2, page3) of the status of the various ports that Orissa plans to have. Following are some highlights from that report.

• Aditya Birla group S.L. Mining has expressed interest in developing the Chudamani port in Bhadrakh district. IIT Madras has done the technical evaluation of this project. Page 1 of the article has more details.
• Navajuga engineering of Hyderabad has proposed developing Astaranga port in Puri district. Page 1 of the article has more details.
• Puri ports limited has proposed developing the Baliharchandi port in Puri district. Page 1 of the article has more details.
• Good earth maritime of Madras has proposed developing the port in Bahuda muhana of Ganjam district. Page 1 of the article has more details.
• Gopalpur: Being developed by Orissa Stevedores. Page 2 of the article has more details.
• Dhamara:TISCO and L & T are devloping this port. Page 2 of the article has more details.
• Jatadhari: Being developed by POSCO. Page 3 of the article has more details.
• Paradip: Existing major port. We discussed its expansion plans recently.
• Palur, Ganjam: no proposals yet
• Barunei, Kendarpara: no proposals yet
• Inchudi, Balasore: no proposals yet
• Chandipur, Balasore: no proposals yet
• Bahabalpur, Balasore: no proposals yet

The article says that the Balasore district ports face problems from the Dept. of Defense because of the missile testing range nearby. The article does not mention the following plan:

• Creative ports, Chennai plans to develop the Kirtania port on the mouth of Subarnarekha in Balasore district.