Odisha charts bold maritime future: CM Majhi unveils ₹50,000-crore investment vision at India Maritime Week 2025

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 27, 2025

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday unveiled Odisha’s ambitious maritime vision at the India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 in Mumbai, announcing investment deals worth ₹50,000 crore to strengthen the state’s position as India’s emerging maritime hub on the eastern coast.

Reaffirming his government’s commitment to developing a strong port-led and port-based economy, CM Majhi said Odisha aims to transform its ports into “engines of trade, industry, and employment,” propelling India’s growth for the next 25 years. The Chief Minister joined the inaugural session of IMW 2025 alongside Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who attended as Chief Guest.

Addressing the gathering, CM Majhi said, “Odisha is committed to building a strong port-led and port-based economy and will transform our ports into engines of trade, industry, and employment — driving India’s growth journey for the next 25 years.”

During his visit, Majhi met leading industry representatives from the port and blue economy sectors, inviting them to invest in Odisha’s rapidly evolving maritime and coastal ecosystem. He highlighted the state’s strategic geographic advantage, robust infrastructure, and progressive policies that make Odisha a rising maritime powerhouse.

“Odisha’s maritime strength is driving a new era of industrial and economic growth,” he noted. “With Paradip, Dhamra, Gopalpur, and upcoming ports at Astaranga, Jatadhari Muhan, Subarnarekha, and Bahuda, we are expanding our total port handling capacity to 500 million tonnes annually, supported by three major ship anchor points,” he added.

Among the transformative projects, Majhi announced the ₹21,500-crore Bahuda Port, a ₹24,700-crore Shipbuilding and Repair Cluster at the Mahanadi Mouth, and a world-class Cruise Terminal at Puri. “These projects will redefine Odisha’s coastal economy and strengthen global trade linkages. With stable governance, skilled manpower, and investor-friendly reforms, Odisha stands as a rising maritime hub of Eastern India,” he added.

The Chief Minister outlined Odisha’s long-term maritime roadmap, which includes expanding port capacity to 500 million tonnes per annum by 2047, developing 14 non-major ports, and advancing blue economy initiatives that integrate tourism, cruise development, and sustainable coastal industries.

A special Odisha session, titled “Port-led Development of Odisha: A Perspective Plan for 2024”, was held under the chairmanship of CM Majhi, attended by senior government officials and industry delegates. The session explored investment opportunities in port-led industrial infrastructure and maritime innovation.

During the session, the Odisha government signed nine Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth ₹50,000 crore with various national and international agencies. These include projects for an all-weather Satellite Major Port at Bahuda Muhana in Ganjam, an International Cruise Terminal at Puri worth ₹500 crore, a National Mega Shipbuilding Cluster worth ₹22,700 crore, and a state-of-the-art Maritime Museum, among others.