The Aditya Birla group, which has diversified business interests, Thursday signed an agreement with Orissa to develop a sea port in Bhadrak district on an investment of Rs.1,500 crore, the government said.

The projected capacity of the port, to be developed at Chudamani over four years, will be 3Mta in the first phase. This will be expanded subsequently to 10Mta, the government said in a statement.

The Aditya Birla group will run the port on build, own, operate (BOO) basis, it added.
The port will have two berths, and will handle bulk cargo such as cement, aluminium, iron ore, thermal coal, limestone, gypsum, clinker and copper.

“In this port, directly or indirectly, about 5000 people will be employed. By operation of the port, the state government will get revenue about INR20 crore per annum,” the statement said.