THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

PARADIP, NOVEMBER 5, 2026

In a major push to strengthen rail-port connectivity and accelerate cargo evacuation, Paradip Port Authority (PPA) and the East Coast Railway (ECoR) have agreed to put in place a series of coordination measures to improve operational efficiency and ensure seamless movement of freight.

The decision was taken at an operational review meeting hosted by PPA with a senior delegation from the East Coast Railway's Khurda Road Division, aimed at reviewing operational performance, identifying bottlenecks and addressing challenges affecting cargo movement at port terminals.

The railway delegation was led by Chief Freight Transportation Manager (CFTM) K.V.S.R.K. Kishore and Senior Divisional Operations Manager (Sr. DOM), Khurda Road Division, Preeti Rana.

The meeting was chaired by PPA Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit, in the presence of Deputy Chairperson T. Venu Gopal and senior officials heading various departments of the port authority.

During the deliberations, both sides undertook a detailed assessment of cargo evacuation efficiency, rail operations and existing operational constraints, while exploring measures to enhance coordination between the port and railway authorities.

As part of the exercise, the railway delegation, accompanied by PPA officials, visited key operational locations, including manual sidings, DDIP and KICT, to take stock of ground-level conditions and identify areas requiring immediate attention.

In a significant step towards ensuring closer operational monitoring, both organisations agreed to conduct fortnightly video-conference reviews between the CFTM team and PPA leadership. They also decided to introduce daily exception reporting to flag operational disruptions, track emerging challenges and facilitate prompt resolution of bottlenecks.

The proposed measures are expected to strengthen inter-agency coordination, improve the efficiency of rail-based cargo handling and facilitate faster evacuation of freight from the port.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of Paradip Port Authority and East Coast Railway to building a more efficient rail-port logistics network, strengthening multimodal connectivity and supporting the sustained growth of India's maritime trade.