Bhubaneswar (SunstarTV Bureau): The Odisha Assembly passed the State Maritime Board Bill, 2020, on Tuesday. The bill was passed for the development of ports and maritime activities.
The board will be headed by the Chief Secretary while Transport Secretary will work as member secretary of the 12 member Board.
It will formulate policies and chalk out plans for the development of port sector and maritime activities, Commerce and Transport Minister Padmanabh Behera said.
He added that the Board will act as a facilitator and attract private investment for port sector. The board will work for the construction, maintenance and operation of non-major ports.
The government has reserved its right to dissolve the board if it feels that Board violated the prescribed guidelines.
Sources said, 14 non-major ports would be developed following which 14 sites have been identified. Out of the 14 ports, Gopalpur and Dhamra are operational while Astarang and Subarnarekha are to be functional soon.
