The Odisha state government has selected 300 ha of land for the establishment of a riverine port on the Mahanadi river at Akhadasali village in Kendrapada district's Mahakalapada block, although only 175 hectares would be used in the first phase, as per reports. The remainder will be used for future expansion of the facility. The port's anticipated cargo handling capacity of 45.88 mmtpa will be developed in the first phase. The government has given the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) preliminary authority to build the port on the Mahanadi's left bank. Nearly Rs 20.85 billion of the total anticipated cost of Rs 40 billion would be invested in the first phase to develop the facility.
