Orissa to get 2 new ports by 2010

Besides a number of steel plants, Orissa will get two more minor ports by 2010, State Commerce Minister Jaynarayan Mishra has said.

The two minor ports would be at Gopalpur in Ganjam district and at Dhamra in Bhadrak district. The first phase of Gopalpur port had already been completed, while work was on at Dhamra port, he told the Assembly on Friday.

Dhamra Port Company Ltd, a venture of L&T and Tisco, has already started work on its project. An agreement has been signed with Gopalpur Port Ltd for the purpose.

Both the ports were being developed on a build-operate-transfer basis and would come under the state’s ownership after the lease period, he said.