Following is an excerpt from a news report in Business Standard.

The Orissa government today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Titanium Products Private Limited (TPPL), an Indo-Russian joint venture, for setting up of a Rs 2000 crore integrated titanium complex and sector specific special economic zone (SEZ) at Chhatrapur in Ganjam district.

SM Shroff , chairman of TPPL and the state industry secretary, A P Padhi signed the documents in the presence of chief minister, Naveen Patnaik in the state secretariat.

The company will invest about Rs 2000 crore in two phases. While the first phase will cost about Rs 1200 crore, another Rs 800 crore will be invested in the second phase. The first phase will be completed within a period of 24 months and is likely to be commissioned by October 2010. It will produce 1,08,000 tonnes of titanium slag, 68,000 tonnes of high purity pig iron, 40,000 tonnes of di-oxide pigment and 10,000 tonnes of titanium sponge.

TPPL has already entered into an agreement with the Indian Rare Earth Limited (IREL) for the supply of the raw material Ilminite. The company will require about 2 lakh tonnes of Ilminite annually for its project. India will be the fourth country in the world to have smelting technology required for production of titanium. The products will have applications in the field of aircraft engine, power plants, chemical plants, automobile industry as titanium is light and corrosion resistant.

TPPL will develop a sector specific special economic zone (SEZ) at its plant site for which it has received the in-principle approval from the Centre. However, it will require additional land beyond 250 acres acquired for the titanium complex.

The Orissa government has agreed to supply 65 Mw of power and 3 million gallon per day water for the project.

Speaking on the occasion chief minister Naveen Patnaik  … He said, the project is the anchor industry for a sector specific SEZ for establishment of downstream industries in sectors like high quality paint manufacturing, automotive casting, ductile iron casting, sillicon and zircon based products.

Patnaik said, the upcoming port at Gopalpur and the integrated titanium complex are the foundations for an industrial corridor in southern Orissa. These will further be integrated with the aluminium hinterland in Kalahandi, Koraput anfd Raygada. For the purpose, he has requested the railway ministry to take up the Therubali-Gunupur railway connectivity at the earliest.

Stating that establishment of a quality vocational educational institution offering the most modern trades relevant for the industry will be an important initiative in the skill upgradation of the local youth, Patnaik said, TPPL should explore such possibility. Besides, it should develop partnership with the local technical institutions.

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 from the PIB http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=36480.

RAJYA SABHA

            The list of Ports where Railways are considering rail connectivity is given hereunder:

            The status of the proposals in Gujarat is as under :

Gujarat :

·         Gujarat Maritime Board had commissioned M/s. RITES for a feasibility cum traffic survey report for providing rail connectivity to Rozi & Bedi Port from Windmill Station in year 2003.  GMB has yet to approach Railways for rail connectivity.

·         Gujarat Maritime Board had commissioner M/s RITES for a survey to provide connectivity to Porbandar Port.  The report was submitted in June 2002.  GMB is considering constructing a rail link of 5.1 km from Porbandar to Porbandar Port at their own cost.

            This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways, Shri R. Velu in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

The above article mentions a list of other places where new ports may come up and the companies that have shown interest in them. They are:

• Barunei muhana, Kendrapada: Interest shown by Mittal Steel, Adhunik Metallic and SPI infrastructure.
• Inchudi, Balasore: Interest shown by IL&FS and  SSL energy.
• Palur, Ganjam: Interest shown by Future metals.
• Bahuda Muhana, Ganjam: Interest shown by Mehta and Company

It says that among the shortlisted 13 locations for ports the chances are not good for Chandipur, Bahabalpur and Chudamani and if ports come up in the remaining 10 then Orissa will have the second largest number of ports.

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.