Gopalpur Port achieves financial closure for Phase-I

Gopalpur Ports Limited (GPL), a special purpose vehicle developing Gopalpur into an all-weather port, has achieved financial closure for the first phase of the project. GPL is a consortium of three companies comprising Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL), Sara International Limited and the Hong Kong-based Noble Group.

It recently signed a loan agreement with a consortium of 11 banks led by Punjab National Bank (PNB) for a total loan amount of Rs 848.78 crore.

The other bankers in the consortium are Bank of India, Dena Bank, Indian Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Travancore, Uco Bank, Union Bank of India, United Bank of India and India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited. In the phase-I, GPL plans to construct the breakwaters, three berths along with all associated material handling equipment, stockyards, warehouses and railway infrastructure. GPL has already started the process of awarding construction contracts and expects to commission the new facility within two years.

However, the port's expansion plan has been hit as it is yet to get the environmental clearance despite the request made to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) by the state government on the basis of the recommendations of the Orissa State Coastal Zone Management Authority (OSCZMA). The delay in the environmental clearance for the port is attributed to the stiff protests from the wildlife activists and environmentalists who fear that the port expansion would impact the famed Olive Ridley turtles which congregate every year at the Rushikulya river mouth, about 40 km from here.

The Gopalpur, earlier a seasonal port, started its operations within three months of signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the state government and GPL in 2006.