The Economic Times reports that Dhamara port is expected to be operational in 2010. Following are some excerpts from that report.

The first phase of construction of the Rs 2,400-crore Dhamra port project in Orissa, a 50:50 joint venture between Tata Steel and L&T, would be completed by March 2010, a company official said on Tuesday.

“We will complete the first phase of the port by 2010 which will be capable of handling 25 million tons of cargo,” Dhamra Port Company Ltd CEO Santosh K Mohapatra said here on the sidelines of a CII Logistics seminar. …

The port, which aims to serve industries in Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh, would initially deal with bulk cargo like coal, iron-ore and steel.

In the first phase, two berths would be constructed capable of handling 25 million tons cargo. The capacity could be scaled upto 85 million tons with a total of 13 berths.

The port, when completed, would be the deepest one in eastern India with an 18-metre draught capable of handling super size vessels with capacity of up to 1,80,000 tons.

A new railway track to Dhamra may be built for movement of cargo to the port. Of the proposed 62 km of railway track, land acquisition for 52 km of track has already been completed.

Telegraph also reports on it and mentions that Dhamara port may try to become an SEZ. Following are some excerpts from the Telegraph report.

The Dhamra port in Orissa is exploring the option of turning itself into a special economic zone (SEZ).

The 50:50 joint venture between Tata Steel and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is coming up on a 900-acre plot on the Orissa coast. Dhamra Port Company Ltd (DPCL) plans to develop two berths, at an investment of Rs 2,400 crore, to handle bulk cargo such as coal and iron ore.

Santosh K. Mohapatra, chief executive officer of the company, said contractors had been appointed and orders placed for the project.

“We hope to complete the first phase, capable of handling 25 million tonnes of cargo, by April 2010,” he said.

Asked if the company planned to seek SEZ status, he said such an idea was being considered. …

To begin with, the Dhamra port will handle raw materials for steel plants coming up in Kalinganagar and in nearby areas. Tata Steel itself is building a 6mt plant at Kalinganagar. “Later we may consider to have port-based industries there,” Mohapatra said.

Eventually the Dhamra port will be equipped to handle 85mt cargo capacity with 13 berths.

Tata Steel and L&T are contributing Rs 250 crore each as equity for the project, while the remaining Rs 1,900 crore will be raised as debt from eight banks led by IDBI.

The company will also build a 62km rail track from the port to Bhadrak, which will connect with the Howrah-Chennai trunk route. The company will require 2,200 acres for that, taking the total land requirement of the whole project to 3,100 acres.