By Sandeep Pattnaik
\r\n
Bhubaneswer : Indian Chamber of Commerce [ICC] has organized the second edition of Transport Infra Odisha-2014, which aims to accelerate the pace of infrastructure development in Odisha, pertaining to roads , ports, railways and airways on Tuesday here.
\r\n
In the inaugural speech Vishal Agarwal, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, VISA Steel Ltd &Chairman, Indian Chamber of Commerce, Odisha Chapter said, “The Country is facing lack of infra support in transportation sector today, to support the manufacturing and services sector, commerce and trade. Odisha accounts for 16 % of the nation’s cumulative mineral wealth and has emerged as a mineral & metal and energy hub of the country and the world. The State has 98 % of India’s chromite reserves, 60% of Bauxite reserve, 33.91% of Iron Ore reserves and 24% of nation’s coal reserve and has become a preferred destination of investors in minerals and metals business in India. It has also emerged as a steel, aluminum, ferroalloys and power hub with major investments over the last decade. However, the logistics costs remain very high which adversely impacts the cost competitiveness of these industries. This requires urgent intervention from the Govt. of Odisha and East Coast Railways. The major areas of transport infrastructure like Road, Railways, Ports and Airways need to be developed.”
\r\n
On the First plenary session, “Impediments in the Rapid Infrastructural Growth”, experts talked about Focus on Ports & Airways Expansion in existing air connectivity, Improvement of existing airports and development of new airports and airstrips, Port Evacuation, Development of new ports sites, Private Participation in Port Development, Disaster management plans, Captive Jetties for Industries were discussed.
\r\n
The theme of the final session was “Accelerating Implementation of Infrastructure Projects”. Panelists in this session shared their ideas about Focus on Roadways & Railways, Strengthening National Highways, Criminalized nexus at Road, Transportation, Maintenance and repair of existing roads ,Logistic Infrastructure Support in India, Implementation of PPP s for infrastructural development, Infrastructure Financing, Need for wide railway infrastructure and connectivity, Strategies to leverage private capital in Roads & Railways.
\r\n
The event was inaugurated in the presence of Sanjay Mahapatra, Commissioner, Rail Coordination and Special Secretary, Department of Commerce & Transport, Govt of Odisha , Dilip Kumar Samantray, Managing Director Angul Sukinda Railway Ltd, J B Pany, Executive Member, ICC Odisha Expert Committee and MD, Radiant Telesystem Ltd.
\r\n
Among others Subrat Tripathy, CEO, The Dhamra Port Company Ltd, Sharad Kumar, Airport Director, Airports Authority of India, Biju Patnaik Airport, Odisha, Rinkesh Roy, Chief Freight Transport Manager, East Coast Railway, Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Dy. COM / Frt, East Coast Railway, Dr Omkar Nath Mohanty,Director, RSB Group, Anil Dixit, Project Director, NHAI, J M Sinha, Chief Logistics, Tata Steel Ltd were also present on this occasion.
