Odisha is making waves in India’s maritime sector, and the numbers tell the story. The state’s non-major ports hit 80 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) in cargo handling for the fiscal year 2024-25, with Dhamra Port leading the charge at 46.08 MTPA and Gopalpur Port contributing 6 MTPA. That’s not just cargo—it’s INR 306.15 crore in revenue for the state. Meanwhile, Paradip Port Authority, Odisha’s major port powerhouse, crushed its own record with 150.41 MTPA, cementing its status as India’s largest cargo-handling major port. This isn’t just growth; it’s a strategic pivot. Odisha’s maritime playbook is all about sustainability, integrated logistics, and network viability—backed by a laser focus on safety and skill development.
The state isn’t just expanding; it’s modernising. Advanced port technologies and deeper berths are opening new trade lanes, and the investments are pouring in. JSW Utkal Steel Limited is dropping INR 2,104 crore into the sector, creating 3,450 jobs. Meanwhile, the revised concession agreement with Gopalpur Ports Ltd. is set to bring in INR 16,554 crore and generate 5,000 jobs—direct and indirect. This isn’t just infrastructure; it’s economic transformation.
But Odisha isn’t stopping at steel and cargo. The state is future-proofing its workforce. Simulators are now live at the Crew Training Institute Chandbali and Odisha Maritime Academy, ensuring sailors and operators are ready for the next wave of maritime tech. And safety? The Directorate Ports & IWT has distributed nearly 35,000 life-saving equipment to boat owners at a 95% subsidy, proving that progress doesn’t come at the cost of lives.
Odisha’s maritime push is more than economic—it’s about regional integration. By bridging gaps and pulling aspirational coastal districts into the mainstream, the state is rewriting the script on inclusive growth. The vision? A Viksit Odisha by 2036, aligned with a Viksit Bharat by 2047. This isn’t just a port expansion; it’s a blueprint for how coastal states can drive national ambition.