Odisha to Get ₹21,500-Crore Greenfield Deep-Sea Port at Bahuda
New port in Ganjam to boost trade capacity; shipbuilding cluster planned in Kendrapara with ₹24,700-crore investment
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to add a new milestone to its maritime journey with the establishment of a greenfield deep-sea port at Bahuda in Ganjam district. The ambitious project, estimated at ₹21,500 crore, is expected to transform the state’s trade potential and create a stronger footprint in India’s coastal economy.
The project moved a step closer to reality with the signing of a tripartite agreement between the Odisha Maritime Board (OMB), Paradip Port Authority (PPA), and Sagarmala Finance Corporation (SFC). The agreement was formalized at a recent maritime event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, underscoring Odisha’s growing role in the national maritime development framework.
Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain confirmed that the Bahuda port will be developed over approximately 5,000 acres of land. Designed to function as a satellite port of the Paradip deep-sea port, Bahuda will significantly ease cargo pressure on Paradip while opening new avenues for industrial growth in southern Odisha.
Once operational, the Bahuda port is projected to handle 150 million tonnes of cargo every year. Officials believe this will not only strengthen Odisha’s maritime infrastructure but also enhance the state’s role as a logistics and trade hub on the eastern coast of India.
Currently, Odisha operates one major port—Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district—alongside two non-major ports: Dhamra in Bhadrak and Gopalpur in Ganjam. With Bahuda, Odisha will have its second port in Ganjam district, further consolidating its strategic coastal presence.
The deep-sea port is expect end to catalyze investments in industries such as steel, aluminum, power, and petrochemicals by ensuring smoother export-import operations. Southern Odisha, often seen as underutilized in terms of industrial infrastructure, could emerge as a new growth corridor once the Bahuda port becomes operational.
Observers point out that the project also aligns with Odisha’s long-term vision to diversify its economic base, reduce logistics costs, and strengthen its competitiveness in global trade.
In a related development, the Odisha Maritime Board and Paradip Port Authority signed another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a world-class shipbuilding cluster in Kendrapara district. The proposed project, with an investment of ₹24,700 crore, will be located along the Mahanadi riverbank.
The cluster will feature one or more shipyards with a combined capacity of 1 to 1.2 million gross tonnage per year. It will also include a dedicated waterfront spanning 2–2.5 kilometers and cover around 2,000–2,500 acres of land.
Industry experts say the shipbuilding project will place Odisha on the global shipbuilding map, create large-scale employment opportunities, and promote ancillary industries in engineering, logistics, and marine services.
Together, the Bahuda port and the Kendrapara shipbuilding cluster represent more than ₹46,000 crore in fresh maritime investments. These projects signal Odisha’s intent to leverage its 480-km coastline as a key economic driver under the broader vision of becoming a logistics and manufacturing powerhouse by 2036.
Industries Minister Swain said the initiatives would not only boost trade but also create substantial employment opportunities for the state’s youth. “With these projects, Odisha is positioning itself as a hub of maritime excellence, integrating port-led development with industrial growth,” he said.
