New port on Mahanadi waters

In times of confrontation over sharing of Mahanadi waters between Chhattisgarh and Odisha, the state government is set to construct a riverine port on the mouth of the Mahanadi. The port project would cater to the needs of mineral-rich Odisha, as well as Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. It will be a common user port for various industries and mines in these states. The estimated cost for the proposed port, which will be developed in public-private partnership mode, has been pegged at Rs 2,562 crore. The proposed project has been found to be technically feasible and financially viable with an expected return of 14.36 per cent.