Orissa government has signed an MoU with Aditya Birla Group for setting up of a 10 MTPA capacity sea port at an investment of Rs1500 crore.

The port to be established at Chudamani in Bhadrak district, would have 3 mtpa capacity in the phase-1, said ABG’s executive president Ravi Kastia.

The port will be connected by a rail corridor from Markona railway station, he said adding the company is to operate on BOO (Build Own Operate) basis. The port work will be completed within four years, he said.

“Once operational, the port will handle bulk cargo like cement, aluminium, iron ore, thermal coal, lime stone, gypsum, clinker and copper”, Kastia said.

About 5000 people would get direct and indirect employment in the port project having two berths.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik who was present during the MoU signing ceremony here, asked ABG to take care of the precious flora and fauna of the area.

“Environment friendly technologies should be adopted so that the eco-system is not disturbed”, he cautioned.

This was the fourth port project for which the state government had signed MoUs. The three other port locations were at Dhamra in Bhadrak district, Kirtania in Balasore district and Astarang in Puri district.