The state’s Chief Minister, Mr Naveen Patnaik formally inaugurated Odisha’s Dhamra port, a joint venture between Tata Steel and Larsen & Toubro.
Senior Shipping Ministry officials and representatives from the joint venture partners were present on the occasion.
Though the port handled its first vessel in September last year, commercial operations really took off in May 2011 when rail connectivity was established and rake movement to and from the facility began. Since then more than 50 vessels, 500 rakes and about 2.5 million tonnes of imported coking coal have reportedly been handled.
It is now geared up to handle exports for the first time.
The proposed multipurpose port, currently having two berths, has been built at a cost of about Rs 3,500 crore.
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World Maritime News Staff, December 19, 2011; Image: dhamraport