The land acquisition process for developing two non-major ports in Odisha is currently under way, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena informed the Assembly in a written reply on Thursday. The proposed ports—Subarnarekha in Balasore district and Astaranga in Puri district—fall under the jurisdiction of the state government.

The state has already signed concession agreements with Subarnarekha Private Limited and Nabaryug Engineering Company Limited for the development of the two port projects, Jena stated in response to a query from BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo.

He added that a separate concession agreement has been finalised for a captive jetty to support JSW Utkal Steel Limited’s proposed Integrated Steel Plant at Jhatdhari Muhan in Jagatsinghpur district. Odisha currently has one major port, Paradip, which operates under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.