Gadkari launches projs worth Rs 269 cr in Paradip Port Trust

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today inaugurated projects worth Rs 269 crore at Paradip Port here, and said a super speciality hospital will be set up in the port town, while a medical college is under consideration.
The Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister inaugurated the South Oil Jetty of ten million tonnes capacity, built at a cost of Rs 222 crore, for smooth movement of liquid cargo from Paradip Port.
Installation of the new oil jetty would lead to enhancement of Paradip Port's cargo handling capacity to 118 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) from 108 mtpa.
Gadkari dedicated the Draught Enhancement in the Central Dock and MCB to 14.5 m built at a cost of Rs 47 crore at the port.

This apart, during his visit to the port, the Union Minister laid the foundation stone of Rs 16 crore Dust Barrier System under Environmental Management Programme of the Centre and also laid the foundation of Rs 174 crore Capital Dredging of Iron Ore, Coal and Multi-purpose Clean Cargo Dock Basin and a plantation programme of about 20,000 saplings.
"Both the oil jetty and draught enhancement facilities will add to the capacity of the Paradip Port," Gadkari said while addressing a function.

Announcing plans to establish a super-speciality hospital in the port town, he said setting up of a medical college could also be considered and urged the state government to provide adequate land for the purpose.

"We do not want to acquire land from farmers. The proposed project will come up on government land," he said, adding that people in and around the port town would get better healthcare facilities once the medical college and hospital comes up in their area.
Describing himself as a trade union leader, Gadkari told port employees and others associated with port activities to maintain high standards of work culture in order to make Paradip Port the number one in the country.
He added that the government can provide employment to the people by setting up industries and appealed the people to cooperate in setting up different industries in Paradip area, which already has an oil refinery and other major projects.

Gadkari also distributed kits to school students and stressed on the Centre's 'Swach Bharat' campaign, saying efforts should be made not to release polluted water discharged by different industries to the sea.