THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

PARADIP, MAY 20, 2026

 “Paradip Port Authority is on a trajectory of unprecedented growth, establishing itself as a premier maritime hub both nationally and internationally,” said P. L. Haranadh, Chairman of Paradip Port Authority, while addressing the Annual Awards Nite 2026 & Stakeholders’ Meet held here on Wednesday. Emphasising the Port’s historic rise and ambitious expansion roadmap, he said that Paradip is poised to become the largest port in the country by capacity by 2030.

The prestigious event was organised to recognise and celebrate the exceptional contributions of stakeholders who have played a crucial role in the Port’s record-breaking performance during the past fiscal year. The gathering witnessed the participation of key stakeholders from across the maritime sector, including exporters, importers, officers, staff unions, PPP operators, stevedores, shipping agents, Railways, Customs and State Government officials.

Chairman P. L. Haranadh, along with T. Venu Gopal, Deputy Chairman, Paradip Port Authority, presented awards and shared prize money with award-winning stakeholders in recognition of their exemplary performance, operational excellence and significant contribution towards the Port’s historic achievements.

In his address, Haranadh expressed deep gratitude to exporters, importers and ship owners for their unwavering confidence and continued support towards Paradip Port’s growth journey. Highlighting the Port’s remarkable performance, he said Paradip has achieved a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of nearly 9 over the last four years, more than double the national maritime sector’s average growth rate of 4 per cent. This consistent performance, he noted, has enabled Paradip Port to outperform other major domestic ports and register its best-ever performance since commencing operations in 1967.

Despite recent challenges, including a decline of over 10 million tonnes in iron ore traffic and stagnant coastal thermal coal volumes due to the nation’s increasing shift towards renewable energy and imports, the Chairman expressed strong optimism about the future. He stated that the Government of India’s domestic import substitution strategy aimed at conserving foreign exchange reserves is expected to generate substantial domestic coal demand from power generation companies.

To cater to the anticipated growth, Paradip Port has already launched an extensive infrastructure expansion programme. The Port, currently operating 18 berths, is set to add five new cape-enable berths within the next two to three months, taking the total number of berths to 23. In addition, the remaining four semi-mechanized berths will be fully mechanized within a month to significantly enhance operational productivity.

Haranadh further informed that the Port is on the verge of awarding an exclusive container terminal in the coming months. Simultaneously, tender processes are underway for dedicated green hydrogen, green ammonia and liquid cargo berths. These strategic initiatives are expected to enhance Paradip Port’s handling capacity from 290 million tonnes to 350 million tonnes by 2030, firmly positioning it as the country’s largest port by capacity.

Reaffirming the Port’s commitment towards becoming a customer-centric “smart port,” the Chairman highlighted the successful implementation of the Enterprise Business System (EBS) from January 1 and thanked all users for adapting swiftly to the new system. He stressed that the Port’s core philosophy remains centred on enhancing the “Ease of Doing Business.”

He assured stakeholders that Paradip Port Authority functions as a proactive facilitator rather than a rigid government organisation and remains committed to addressing concerns efficiently while creating a reliable, convenient and growth-oriented ecosystem for all stakeholders.

Haranadh also conveyed his sincere gratitude to Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Shantanu Thakur for their leadership and guidance. He acknowledged the continued support extended by the Ministry of Railways, Government of Odisha and the Department of Customs in strengthening Paradip Port’s growth trajectory.

The Awards Nite 2026 celebrated the spirit of partnership, dedication and shared achievement that continues to propel Paradip Port towards greater milestones in operational excellence, sustainability and innovation.

Capt. Alekha Charan Sahoo, Deputy Conservator, Paradip Port Authority, delivered the vote of thanks.