Dhamra port to be operational by 2010

The estimated cost of phase-I of the project will be Rs 2,463 crore, the company said. Work on 25 per cent of phase-I has already been completed.

Phase-I of the project includes construction of a 700 m jetty with fully-mechanised loading and unloading facility and a 62 km rail link between Dhamra and Bhadrak on the Howrah-Chennai route.

The project under build, own, operate, share and transfer model mooted by the Orissa government is a 50:50 joint venture between Tata Steel and L&T.

The port will have total 13 berths to handle dry bulk, oil, and containerised cargo.

On being asked why the project cost has gone up from Rs 1,500 crore as envisaged originally years ago, Mohapatra shrugged off the questions saying, "these are historical figures."

The Dhamra project was envisaged in late 1990s. It has been delayed due to protests by environmental groups.

There have been protests against the project owing to the perceived threat to Olive Ridley turtles habitat around the site.In February 2007, the company attained financial closure for the project by tying up funds worth over Rs 2,400 crore.

Mohapatra said, "Financial closure of the Dhamra Port project was at Rs 2,430 crore and there has been no escalation."

He said the project has obtained all statutory clearances including the environmental clearance from the Centre and no objection certificate from Orissa Pollution Control Board.

All measures to protect turtles habitat near the port site are being taken in consultation with International Union for Conservation of Nature.