The industries department is set to prepare a master plan, based on priority areas, as the looks to gain from the Centres huge Investment proposal for Infrastructure development under the ambitious PMGatiShaktiinitiative.
Launched in 2021 by the Narendra Modi government, PM GatiShakti national master plan aims to bolster multi-modal connectivity through coordinated planning and execution of infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, Airports, Ports, mass transport, waterways and Logistics.
Though the commerce and transport department was initially assigned the task of preparing the master plan, the industries department has now been roped in for the purpose.
State industries secretaryHemant Sharmasaid the state government has already been preparing a logistics master plan with the help of Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES).
The industries department will soon appoint a state nodal officer for the project, who will coordinate with the nodal officers of other line departments to initiate the future course of action. The nodal officers will also attend a four-day (March 14 to 17) training programme at BISAG-N in Ahmedabad, Gujarat to deliberate on the plan.
Odishas 480-km long coastline offers long-term potential for cargo handling by leveraging the sea routes. At present, the state has three all-weather ports at Paradip,DhamraandGopalpurwhile three more ports are expected to be ready in a few years.